Named entity normalization in a spoken dialog system

ABSTRACT

Systems and processes for processing natural language input are described. An example process for processing natural language input includes receiving a natural language input and determining a domain corresponding to the natural language input. The example process further includes, in accordance with determining the domain corresponding to the natural language input, determining, based on the natural language input, a first value for a first property of the domain and determining, based on a named entity model and the natural language input, a second value for the first property of the domain, where the second value defines a parameter for a task corresponding to the natural language input. The example process further includes performing the task based on the parameter and providing a result based on the performed task.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.62/738,993, filed on Sep. 28, 2018, the entire contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD

This relates generally to intelligent automated assistants and, morespecifically, to improving the natural language understandingcapabilities of intelligent automated assistants.

BACKGROUND

Intelligent automated assistants (or digital assistants) can provide abeneficial interface between human users and electronic devices. Suchassistants can allow users to interact with devices or systems usingnatural language in spoken and/or text forms. For example, a user canprovide a speech input containing a user request to a digital assistantoperating on an electronic device. The digital assistant can interpretthe user's intent from the speech input and operationalize the user'sintent into tasks. The tasks can then be performed by executing one ormore services of the electronic device, and a relevant output responsiveto the user request can be returned to the user.

However, errors in the recognized natural language input (e.g., due to auser saying one or more words incorrectly and/or due to a speechrecognition error) may adversely affect the performance of a taskcorresponding to the input. Accordingly, it may be desirable to identifyand correct errors in recognized natural language input.

SUMMARY

Example methods are disclosed herein. An example method includes, at anelectronic device having one or more processors: receiving a naturallanguage input; determining a domain corresponding to the naturallanguage input; in accordance with determining the domain correspondingto the natural language input: determining, based on the naturallanguage input, a first value for a first property of the domain;determining, based on a named entity model and the natural languageinput, a second value for the first property of the domain, wherein thesecond value defines a parameter for a task corresponding to the naturallanguage input; performing the task based on the parameter; andproviding a result based on the performed task.

Example methods are disclosed herein. An example method includes, at anelectronic device having one or more processors: receiving a naturallanguage input and metadata corresponding to an output provided afterreceiving the natural language input, wherein: the metadata includes aset of attributes corresponding to the output, the set of attributesdefining a respective set of values for a respective set of propertiesof a domain corresponding to the natural language input. The examplemethod further includes comparing the natural language input to therespective set of values to generate a first mapping associating a firstset of words of the natural language input with a first value of therespective set of values; and providing the first mapping to train anamed entity model for natural language processing.

Example non-transitory computer-readable media are disclosed herein. Anexample non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores one ormore programs. The one or more programs comprise instructions, whichwhen executed by one or more processors of an electronic device, causethe electronic device to: receive a natural language input; determine adomain corresponding to the natural language input; in accordance withdetermining the domain corresponding to the natural language input:determine, based on the natural language input, a first value for afirst property of the domain; determine, based on a named entity modeland the natural language input a second value for the first property ofthe domain, wherein the second value defines a parameter for a taskcorresponding to the natural language input; perform the task based onthe parameter; and provide a result based on the performed task.

Example non-transitory computer-readable media are disclosed herein. Anexample non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores one ormore programs. The one or more programs comprise instructions, whichwhen executed by one or more processors of an electronic device, causethe electronic device to: receive a natural language input and metadatacorresponding to an output provided after receiving the natural languageinput, wherein: the metadata includes a set of attributes correspondingto the output, the set of attributes defining a respective set of valuesfor a respective set of properties of a domain corresponding to thenatural language input. The one or more programs further includeinstructions, which when executed by the one or more processors of theelectronic device, cause the electronic device to: compare the naturallanguage input to the respective set of values to generate a firstmapping associating a first set of words of the natural language inputwith a first value of the respective set of values; and provide thefirst mapping to train a named entity model for natural languageprocessing.

Example electronic devices are disclosed herein. An example electronicdevice comprises one or more processors; a memory; and one or moreprograms, where the one or more programs are stored in the memory andconfigured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or moreprograms including instructions for: receiving a natural language input;determining a domain corresponding to the natural language input; inaccordance with determining the domain corresponding to the naturallanguage input: determining, based on the natural language input, afirst value for a first property of the domain; determining, based on anamed entity model and the natural language input a second value for thefirst property of the domain, wherein the second value defines aparameter for a task corresponding to the natural language input;performing the task based on the parameter; and providing a result basedon the performed task

Example electronic devices are disclosed herein. An example electronicdevice comprises one or more processors; a memory; and one or moreprograms, where the one or more programs are stored in the memory andconfigured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or moreprograms including instructions for: receiving a natural language inputand metadata corresponding to an output provided after receiving thenatural language input, wherein: the metadata includes a set ofattributes corresponding to the output, the set of attributes defining arespective set of values for a respective set of properties of a domaincorresponding to the natural language input. The one or more programsfurther include instructions for: comparing the natural language inputto the respective set of values to generate a first mapping associatinga first set of words of the natural language input with a first value ofthe respective set of values; and providing the first mapping to train anamed entity model for natural language processing.

An example electronic device comprises means for: receiving a naturallanguage input; determining a domain corresponding to the naturallanguage input; in accordance with determining the domain correspondingto the natural language input: determining, based on the naturallanguage input, a first value for a first property of the domain;determining, based on a named entity model and the natural languageinput, a second value for the first property of the domain, wherein thesecond value defines a parameter for a task corresponding to the naturallanguage input; performing the task based on the parameter; andproviding a result based on the performed task.

An example electronic device comprises means for: receiving a naturallanguage input and metadata corresponding to an output provided afterreceiving the natural language input, wherein: the metadata includes aset of attributes corresponding to the output, the set of attributesdefining a respective set of values for a respective set of propertiesof a domain corresponding to the natural language input; comparing thenatural language input to the respective set of values to generate afirst mapping associating a first set of words of the natural languageinput with a first value of the respective set of values; and providingthe first mapping to train a named entity model for natural languageprocessing.

Determining, based on a named entity model and the natural languageinput, a second value for the first property of the domain, where thesecond value defines a parameter for a task corresponding to the naturallanguage input may allow for identification and correction of errors innatural language input. The presence of errors (e.g., named entityerrors) in natural language input may adversely affect the performanceof tasks corresponding to the input. By identifying and correcting sucherrors according to the techniques discussed herein, a correct task maybe performed, despite the presence of errors (e.g., pronunciationerrors, transcription errors, etc.) in the input. In this manner, theuser-device interface is made more efficient (e.g., by more accuratelyand efficiently performing tasks based on natural language input, bydecreasing input users provide to cancel/modify the results of anincorrectly performed task), which additionally, reduces power usage andimproves battery life of the device by enabling the user to use thedevice more quickly and efficiently.

Comparing the natural language input to the respective set of values togenerate a first mapping associating a first set of words of the naturallanguage input with a first value of the respective set of values andproviding the first mapping to train a named entity model for naturallanguage processing can improve the accuracy and efficiency with whicherrors in natural language input are corrected. In particular, agenerated mapping can include an error and its correction. The error(and its associated correction) can then be provided to train a model torecognize the error and/or similar errors and to determine anappropriate correction. Accordingly, using the trained model, futurenatural language inputs can be processed more accurately andefficiently. In this manner, the user-device interface is made moreefficient (e.g., by identifying and correcting errors in naturallanguage input, by more accurately and efficiently performing tasksbased on natural language input, by decreasing input users provide tocancel/modify the results of an incorrectly performed task), whichadditionally, reduces power usage and improves battery life of thedevice by enabling the user to use the device more quickly andefficiently.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system and environment forimplementing a digital assistant, according to various examples.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating a portable multifunction deviceimplementing the client-side portion of a digital assistant, accordingto various examples.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating exemplary components for eventhandling, according to various examples.

FIG. 3 illustrates a portable multifunction device implementing theclient-side portion of a digital assistant, according to variousexamples.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary multifunction device with adisplay and a touch-sensitive surface, according to various examples.

FIG. 5A illustrates an exemplary user interface for a menu ofapplications on a portable multifunction device, according to variousexamples.

FIG. 5B illustrates an exemplary user interface for a multifunctiondevice with a touch-sensitive surface that is separate from the display,according to various examples.

FIG. 6A illustrates a personal electronic device, according to variousexamples.

FIG. 6B is a block diagram illustrating a personal electronic device,according to various examples.

FIG. 7A is a block diagram illustrating a digital assistant system or aserver portion thereof, according to various examples.

FIG. 7B illustrates the functions of the digital assistant shown in FIG.7A, according to various examples.

FIG. 7C illustrates a portion of an ontology, according to variousexamples.

FIG. 8A illustrates a textual representation of a natural language inputat an electronic device, according to some examples.

FIG. 8B illustrates a system for processing natural language requests,according to some examples.

FIG. 8C illustrates device output responsive to receiving naturallanguage input, according to some examples.

FIG. 9A illustrates a textual representation of a natural language inputat an electronic device according to some examples.

FIG. 9B illustrates device output after receiving natural languageinput, according to some examples.

FIG. 9C illustrates a system for training a named entity model,according to some examples.

FIGS. 10A-10B illustrate a process for processing natural languagerequests, according to various examples.

FIGS. 11A-11B illustrate a process for processing natural languagerequests, according to various examples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of examples, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings in which are shown by way of illustration specificexamples that can be practiced. It is to be understood that otherexamples can be used and structural changes can be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the various examples.

The present disclosure generally relates to identifying and correctingerrors (e.g., errors in named entities) in natural language input. Forexample, the present disclosure contemplates using a model (e.g., amachine learned model) to identify and correct such errors. The presentdisclosure further contemplates training such model using data obtainedfrom outputs provided responsive to natural language inputs. In thismanner, a natural language input may be corrected and a correct task maybe performed based on the corrected natural language input.

Although the following description uses terms “first,” “second,” etc. todescribe various elements, these elements should not be limited by theterms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element fromanother. For example, a first input could be termed a second input, and,similarly, a second input could be termed a first input, withoutdeparting from the scope of the various described examples. The firstinput and the second input are both inputs and, in some cases, areseparate and different inputs.

The terminology used in the description of the various describedexamples herein is for the purpose of describing particular examplesonly and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the description ofthe various described examples and the appended claims, the singularforms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms aswell, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also beunderstood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to andencompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms“includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used inthis specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The term “if” may be construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in responseto determining” or “in response to detecting,” depending on the context.Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [a stated conditionor event] is detected” may be construed to mean “upon determining” or“in response to determining” or “upon detecting [the stated condition orevent]” or “in response to detecting [the stated condition or event],”depending on the context.

1. System and Environment

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of system 100 according to variousexamples. In some examples, system 100 implements a digital assistant.The terms “digital assistant,” “virtual assistant,” “intelligentautomated assistant,” or “automatic digital assistant” refer to anyinformation processing system that interprets natural language input inspoken and/or textual form to infer user intent, and performs actionsbased on the inferred user intent. For example, to act on an inferreduser intent, the system performs one or more of the following:identifying a task flow with steps and parameters designed to accomplishthe inferred user intent, inputting specific requirements from theinferred user intent into the task flow; executing the task flow byinvoking programs, methods, services, APIs, or the like; and generatingoutput responses to the user in an audible (e.g., speech) and/or visualform.

Specifically, a digital assistant is capable of accepting a user requestat least partially in the form of a natural language command, request,statement, narrative, and/or inquiry. Typically, the user request seekseither an informational answer or performance of a task by the digitalassistant. A satisfactory response to the user request includes aprovision of the requested informational answer, a performance of therequested task, or a combination of the two. For example, a user asksthe digital assistant a question, such as “Where am I right now?” Basedon the user's current location, the digital assistant answers, “You arein Central Park near the west gate.” The user also requests theperformance of a task, for example, “Please invite my friends to mygirlfriend's birthday party next week.” In response, the digitalassistant can acknowledge the request by saying “Yes, right away,” andthen send a suitable calendar invite on behalf of the user to each ofthe user's friends listed in the user's electronic address book. Duringperformance of a requested task, the digital assistant sometimesinteracts with the user in a continuous dialogue involving multipleexchanges of information over an extended period of time. There arenumerous other ways of interacting with a digital assistant to requestinformation or performance of various tasks. In addition to providingverbal responses and taking programmed actions, the digital assistantalso provides responses in other visual or audio forms, e.g., as text,alerts, music, videos, animations, etc.

As shown in FIG. 1, in some examples, a digital assistant is implementedaccording to a client-server model. The digital assistant includesclient-side portion 102 (hereafter “DA client 102”) executed on userdevice 104 and server-side portion 106 (hereafter “DA server 106”)executed on server system 108. DA client 102 communicates with DA server106 through one or more networks 110. DA client 102 provides client-sidefunctionalities such as user-facing input and output processing andcommunication with DA server 106. DA server 106 provides server-sidefunctionalities for any number of DA clients 102 each residing on arespective user device 104.

In some examples, DA server 106 includes client-facing I/O interface112, one or more processing modules 114, data and models 116, and I/Ointerface to external services 118. The client-facing I/O interface 112facilitates the client-facing input and output processing for DA server106. One or more processing modules 114 utilize data and models 116 toprocess speech input and determine the user's intent based on naturallanguage input. Further, one or more processing modules 114 perform taskexecution based on inferred user intent. In some examples, DA server 106communicates with external services 120 through network(s) 110 for taskcompletion or information acquisition. I/O interface to externalservices 118 facilitates such communications.

User device 104 can be any suitable electronic device. In some examples,user device 104 is a portable multifunctional device (e.g., device 200,described below with reference to FIG. 2A), a multifunctional device(e.g., device 400, described below with reference to FIG. 4), or apersonal electronic device (e.g., device 600, described below withreference to FIG. 6A-6B.) A portable multifunctional device is, forexample, a mobile telephone that also contains other functions, such asPDA and/or music player functions. Specific examples of portablemultifunction devices include the Apple Watch®, iPhone®, iPod Touch®,and iPad® devices from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Other examples ofportable multifunction devices include, without limitation,earphones/headphones, speakers, and laptop or tablet computers. Further,in some examples, user device 104 is a non-portable multifunctionaldevice. In particular, user device 104 is a desktop computer, a gameconsole, a speaker, a television, or a television set-top box. In someexamples, user device 104 includes a touch-sensitive surface (e.g.,touch screen displays and/or touchpads). Further, user device 104optionally includes one or more other physical user-interface devices,such as a physical keyboard, a mouse, and/or a joystick. Variousexamples of electronic devices, such as multifunctional devices, aredescribed below in greater detail.

Examples of communication network(s) 110 include local area networks(LAN) and wide area networks (WAN), e.g., the Internet. Communicationnetwork(s) 110 is implemented using any known network protocol,including various wired or wireless protocols, such as, for example,Ethernet, Universal Serial Bus (USB), FIREWIRE, Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), codedivision multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA),Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Wi-MAX, or anyother suitable communication protocol.

Server system 108 is implemented on one or more standalone dataprocessing apparatus or a distributed network of computers. In someexamples, server system 108 also employs various virtual devices and/orservices of third-party service providers (e.g., third-party cloudservice providers) to provide the underlying computing resources and/orinfrastructure resources of server system 108.

In some examples, user device 104 communicates with DA server 106 viasecond user device 122. Second user device 122 is similar or identicalto user device 104. For example, second user device 122 is similar todevices 200, 400, or 600 described below with reference to FIGS. 2A, 4,and 6A-6B. User device 104 is configured to communicatively couple tosecond user device 122 via a direct communication connection, such asBluetooth, NFC, BTLE, or the like, or via a wired or wireless network,such as a local Wi-Fi network. In some examples, second user device 122is configured to act as a proxy between user device 104 and DA server106. For example, DA client 102 of user device 104 is configured totransmit information (e.g., a user request received at user device 104)to DA server 106 via second user device 122. DA server 106 processes theinformation and returns relevant data (e.g., data content responsive tothe user request) to user device 104 via second user device 122.

In some examples, user device 104 is configured to communicateabbreviated requests for data to second user device 122 to reduce theamount of information transmitted from user device 104. Second userdevice 122 is configured to determine supplemental information to add tothe abbreviated request to generate a complete request to transmit to DAserver 106. This system architecture can advantageously allow userdevice 104 having limited communication capabilities and/or limitedbattery power (e.g., a watch or a similar compact electronic device) toaccess services provided by DA server 106 by using second user device122, having greater communication capabilities and/or battery power(e.g., a mobile phone, laptop computer, tablet computer, or the like),as a proxy to DA server 106. While only two user devices 104 and 122 areshown in FIG. 1, it should be appreciated that system 100, in someexamples, includes any number and type of user devices configured inthis proxy configuration to communicate with DA server system 106.

Although the digital assistant shown in FIG. 1 includes both aclient-side portion (e.g., DA client 102) and a server-side portion(e.g., DA server 106), in some examples, the functions of a digitalassistant are implemented as a standalone application installed on auser device. In addition, the divisions of functionalities between theclient and server portions of the digital assistant can vary indifferent implementations. For instance, in some examples, the DA clientis a thin-client that provides only user-facing input and outputprocessing functions, and delegates all other functionalities of thedigital assistant to a backend server.

2. Electronic Devices

Attention is now directed toward embodiments of electronic devices forimplementing the client-side portion of a digital assistant. FIG. 2A isa block diagram illustrating portable multifunction device 200 withtouch-sensitive display system 212 in accordance with some embodiments.Touch-sensitive display 212 is sometimes called a “touch screen” forconvenience and is sometimes known as or called a “touch-sensitivedisplay system.” Device 200 includes memory 202 (which optionallyincludes one or more computer-readable storage mediums), memorycontroller 222, one or more processing units (CPUs) 220, peripheralsinterface 218, RF circuitry 208, audio circuitry 210, speaker 211,microphone 213, input/output (I/O) subsystem 206, other input controldevices 216, and external port 224. Device 200 optionally includes oneor more optical sensors 264. Device 200 optionally includes one or morecontact intensity sensors 265 for detecting intensity of contacts ondevice 200 (e.g., a touch-sensitive surface such as touch-sensitivedisplay system 212 of device 200). Device 200 optionally includes one ormore tactile output generators 267 for generating tactile outputs ondevice 200 (e.g., generating tactile outputs on a touch-sensitivesurface such as touch-sensitive display system 212 of device 200 ortouchpad 455 of device 400). These components optionally communicateover one or more communication buses or signal lines 203.

As used in the specification and claims, the term “intensity” of acontact on a touch-sensitive surface refers to the force or pressure(force per unit area) of a contact (e.g., a finger contact) on thetouch-sensitive surface, or to a substitute (proxy) for the force orpressure of a contact on the touch-sensitive surface. The intensity of acontact has a range of values that includes at least four distinctvalues and more typically includes hundreds of distinct values (e.g., atleast 256). Intensity of a contact is, optionally, determined (ormeasured) using various approaches and various sensors or combinationsof sensors. For example, one or more force sensors underneath oradjacent to the touch-sensitive surface are, optionally, used to measureforce at various points on the touch-sensitive surface. In someimplementations, force measurements from multiple force sensors arecombined (e.g., a weighted average) to determine an estimated force of acontact. Similarly, a pressure-sensitive tip of a stylus is, optionally,used to determine a pressure of the stylus on the touch-sensitivesurface. Alternatively, the size of the contact area detected on thetouch-sensitive surface and/or changes thereto, the capacitance of thetouch-sensitive surface proximate to the contact and/or changes thereto,and/or the resistance of the touch-sensitive surface proximate to thecontact and/or changes thereto are, optionally, used as a substitute forthe force or pressure of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface. Insome implementations, the substitute measurements for contact force orpressure are used directly to determine whether an intensity thresholdhas been exceeded (e.g., the intensity threshold is described in unitscorresponding to the substitute measurements). In some implementations,the substitute measurements for contact force or pressure are convertedto an estimated force or pressure, and the estimated force or pressureis used to determine whether an intensity threshold has been exceeded(e.g., the intensity threshold is a pressure threshold measured in unitsof pressure). Using the intensity of a contact as an attribute of a userinput allows for user access to additional device functionality that mayotherwise not be accessible by the user on a reduced-size device withlimited real estate for displaying affordances (e.g., on atouch-sensitive display) and/or receiving user input (e.g., via atouch-sensitive display, a touch-sensitive surface, or aphysical/mechanical control such as a knob or a button).

As used in the specification and claims, the term “tactile output”refers to physical displacement of a device relative to a previousposition of the device, physical displacement of a component (e.g., atouch-sensitive surface) of a device relative to another component(e.g., housing) of the device, or displacement of the component relativeto a center of mass of the device that will be detected by a user withthe user's sense of touch. For example, in situations where the deviceor the component of the device is in contact with a surface of a userthat is sensitive to touch (e.g., a finger, palm, or other part of auser's hand), the tactile output generated by the physical displacementwill be interpreted by the user as a tactile sensation corresponding toa perceived change in physical characteristics of the device or thecomponent of the device. For example, movement of a touch-sensitivesurface (e.g., a touch-sensitive display or trackpad) is, optionally,interpreted by the user as a “down click” or “up click” of a physicalactuator button. In some cases, a user will feel a tactile sensationsuch as an “down click” or “up click” even when there is no movement ofa physical actuator button associated with the touch-sensitive surfacethat is physically pressed (e.g., displaced) by the user's movements. Asanother example, movement of the touch-sensitive surface is, optionally,interpreted or sensed by the user as “roughness” of the touch-sensitivesurface, even when there is no change in smoothness of thetouch-sensitive surface. While such interpretations of touch by a userwill be subject to the individualized sensory perceptions of the user,there are many sensory perceptions of touch that are common to a largemajority of users. Thus, when a tactile output is described ascorresponding to a particular sensory perception of a user (e.g., an “upclick,” a “down click,” “roughness”), unless otherwise stated, thegenerated tactile output corresponds to physical displacement of thedevice or a component thereof that will generate the described sensoryperception for a typical (or average) user.

It should be appreciated that device 200 is only one example of aportable multifunction device, and that device 200 optionally has moreor fewer components than shown, optionally combines two or morecomponents, or optionally has a different configuration or arrangementof the components. The various components shown in FIG. 2A areimplemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both hardware andsoftware, including one or more signal processing and/orapplication-specific integrated circuits.

Memory 202 includes one or more computer-readable storage mediums. Thecomputer-readable storage mediums are, for example, tangible andnon-transitory. Memory 202 includes high-speed random access memory andalso includes non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic diskstorage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid-statememory devices. Memory controller 222 controls access to memory 202 byother components of device 200.

In some examples, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium ofmemory 202 is used to store instructions (e.g., for performing aspectsof processes described below) for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as acomputer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system thatcan fetch the instructions from the instruction execution system,apparatus, or device and execute the instructions. In other examples,the instructions (e.g., for performing aspects of the processesdescribed below) are stored on a non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium (not shown) of the server system 108 or are dividedbetween the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of memory202 and the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of serversystem 108.

Peripherals interface 218 is used to couple input and output peripheralsof the device to CPU 220 and memory 202. The one or more processors 220run or execute various software programs and/or sets of instructionsstored in memory 202 to perform various functions for device 200 and toprocess data. In some embodiments, peripherals interface 218, CPU 220,and memory controller 222 are implemented on a single chip, such as chip204. In some other embodiments, they are implemented on separate chips.

RF (radio frequency) circuitry 208 receives and sends RF signals, alsocalled electromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 208 converts electricalsignals to/from electromagnetic signals and communicates withcommunications networks and other communications devices via theelectromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 208 optionally includes well-knowncircuitry for performing these functions, including but not limited toan antenna system, an RF transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner,one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a CODEC chipset, asubscriber identity module (SIM) card, memory, and so forth. RFcircuitry 208 optionally communicates with networks, such as theInternet, also referred to as the World Wide Web (WWW), an intranetand/or a wireless network, such as a cellular telephone network, awireless local area network (LAN) and/or a metropolitan area network(MAN), and other devices by wireless communication. The RF circuitry 208optionally includes well-known circuitry for detecting near fieldcommunication (NFC) fields, such as by a short-range communicationradio. The wireless communication optionally uses any of a plurality ofcommunications standards, protocols, and technologies, including but notlimited to Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced DataGSM Environment (EDGE), high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA),high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA), Evolution, Data-Only (EV-DO),HSPA, HSPA+, Dual-Cell HSPA (DC-HSPDA), long term evolution (LTE), nearfield communication (NFC), wideband code division multiple access(W-CDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multipleaccess (TDMA), Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE), Wireless Fidelity(Wi-Fi) (e.g., IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n,and/or IEEE 802.11ac), voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Wi-MAX, aprotocol for e mail (e.g., Internet message access protocol (IMAP)and/or post office protocol (POP)), instant messaging (e.g., extensiblemessaging and presence protocol (XMPP), Session Initiation Protocol forInstant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions (SIMPLE), InstantMessaging and Presence Service (IMPS)), and/or Short Message Service(SMS), or any other suitable communication protocol, includingcommunication protocols not yet developed as of the filing date of thisdocument.

Audio circuitry 210, speaker 211, and microphone 213 provide an audiointerface between a user and device 200. Audio circuitry 210 receivesaudio data from peripherals interface 218, converts the audio data to anelectrical signal, and transmits the electrical signal to speaker 211.Speaker 211 converts the electrical signal to human-audible sound waves.Audio circuitry 210 also receives electrical signals converted bymicrophone 213 from sound waves. Audio circuitry 210 converts theelectrical signal to audio data and transmits the audio data toperipherals interface 218 for processing. Audio data are retrieved fromand/or transmitted to memory 202 and/or RF circuitry 208 by peripheralsinterface 218. In some embodiments, audio circuitry 210 also includes aheadset jack (e.g., 312, FIG. 3). The headset jack provides an interfacebetween audio circuitry 210 and removable audio input/outputperipherals, such as output-only headphones or a headset with bothoutput (e.g., a headphone for one or both ears) and input (e.g., amicrophone).

I/O subsystem 206 couples input/output peripherals on device 200, suchas touch screen 212 and other input control devices 216, to peripheralsinterface 218. I/O subsystem 206 optionally includes display controller256, optical sensor controller 258, intensity sensor controller 259,haptic feedback controller 261, and one or more input controllers 260for other input or control devices. The one or more input controllers260 receive/send electrical signals from/to other input control devices216. The other input control devices 216 optionally include physicalbuttons (e.g., push buttons, rocker buttons, etc.), dials, sliderswitches, joysticks, click wheels, and so forth. In some alternateembodiments, input controller(s) 260 are, optionally, coupled to any (ornone) of the following: a keyboard, an infrared port, a USB port, and apointer device such as a mouse. The one or more buttons (e.g., 308, FIG.3) optionally include an up/down button for volume control of speaker211 and/or microphone 213. The one or more buttons optionally include apush button (e.g., 306, FIG. 3).

A quick press of the push button disengages a lock of touch screen 212or begin a process that uses gestures on the touch screen to unlock thedevice, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/322,549,“Unlocking a Device by Performing Gestures on an Unlock Image,” filedDec. 23, 2005, U.S. Pat. No. 7,657,849, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety. A longer press of the push button (e.g., 306)turns power to device 200 on or off. The user is able to customize afunctionality of one or more of the buttons. Touch screen 212 is used toimplement virtual or soft buttons and one or more soft keyboards.

Touch-sensitive display 212 provides an input interface and an outputinterface between the device and a user. Display controller 256 receivesand/or sends electrical signals from/to touch screen 212. Touch screen212 displays visual output to the user. The visual output includesgraphics, text, icons, video, and any combination thereof (collectivelytermed “graphics”). In some embodiments, some or all of the visualoutput correspond to user-interface objects.

Touch screen 212 has a touch-sensitive surface, sensor, or set ofsensors that accepts input from the user based on haptic and/or tactilecontact. Touch screen 212 and display controller 256 (along with anyassociated modules and/or sets of instructions in memory 202) detectcontact (and any movement or breaking of the contact) on touch screen212 and convert the detected contact into interaction withuser-interface objects (e.g., one or more soft keys, icons, web pages,or images) that are displayed on touch screen 212. In an exemplaryembodiment, a point of contact between touch screen 212 and the usercorresponds to a finger of the user.

Touch screen 212 uses LCD (liquid crystal display) technology, LPD(light emitting polymer display) technology, or LED (light emittingdiode) technology, although other display technologies may be used inother embodiments. Touch screen 212 and display controller 256 detectcontact and any movement or breaking thereof using any of a plurality oftouch sensing technologies now known or later developed, including butnot limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared, and surface acousticwave technologies, as well as other proximity sensor arrays or otherelements for determining one or more points of contact with touch screen212. In an exemplary embodiment, projected mutual capacitance sensingtechnology is used, such as that found in the iPhone® and iPod Touch®from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.

A touch-sensitive display in some embodiments of touch screen 212 isanalogous to the multi-touch sensitive touchpads described in thefollowing U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,846 (Westerman et al.), U.S. Pat. No.6,570,557 (Westerman et al.), and/or U.S. Pat. No. 6,677,932(Westerman), and/or U.S. Patent Publication 2002/0015024A1, each ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. However,touch screen 212 displays visual output from device 200, whereastouch-sensitive touchpads do not provide visual output.

A touch-sensitive display in some embodiments of touch screen 212 is asdescribed in the following applications: (1) U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/381,313, “Multipoint Touch Surface Controller,” filed May 2,2006; (2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/840,862, “MultipointTouchscreen,” filed May 6, 2004; (3) U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/903,964, “Gestures For Touch Sensitive Input Devices,” filed Jul. 30,2004; (4) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/048,264, “Gestures ForTouch Sensitive Input Devices,” filed Jan. 31, 2005; (5) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/038,590, “Mode-Based Graphical User InterfacesFor Touch Sensitive Input Devices,” filed Jan. 18, 2005; (6) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/228,758, “Virtual Input Device Placement On ATouch Screen User Interface,” filed Sep. 16, 2005; (7) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/228,700, “Operation Of A Computer With A TouchScreen Interface,” filed Sep. 16, 2005; (8) U.S. patent application Ser.No. 11/228,737, “Activating Virtual Keys Of A Touch-Screen VirtualKeyboard,” filed Sep. 16, 2005; and (9) U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/367,749, “Multi-Functional Hand-Held Device,” filed Mar. 3, 2006. Allof these applications are incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety.

Touch screen 212 has, for example, a video resolution in excess of 100dpi. In some embodiments, the touch screen has a video resolution ofapproximately 160 dpi. The user makes contact with touch screen 212using any suitable object or appendage, such as a stylus, a finger, andso forth. In some embodiments, the user interface is designed to workprimarily with finger-based contacts and gestures, which can be lessprecise than stylus-based input due to the larger area of contact of afinger on the touch screen. In some embodiments, the device translatesthe rough finger-based input into a precise pointer/cursor position orcommand for performing the actions desired by the user.

In some embodiments, in addition to the touch screen, device 200includes a touchpad (not shown) for activating or deactivatingparticular functions. In some embodiments, the touchpad is atouch-sensitive area of the device that, unlike the touch screen, doesnot display visual output. The touchpad is a touch-sensitive surfacethat is separate from touch screen 212 or an extension of thetouch-sensitive surface formed by the touch screen.

Device 200 also includes power system 262 for powering the variouscomponents. Power system 262 includes a power management system, one ormore power sources (e.g., battery, alternating current (AC)), arecharging system, a power failure detection circuit, a power converteror inverter, a power status indicator (e.g., a light-emitting diode(LED)) and any other components associated with the generation,management and distribution of power in portable devices.

Device 200 also includes one or more optical sensors 264. FIG. 2A showsan optical sensor coupled to optical sensor controller 258 in I/Osubsystem 206. Optical sensor 264 includes charge-coupled device (CCD)or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) phototransistors.Optical sensor 264 receives light from the environment, projectedthrough one or more lenses, and converts the light to data representingan image. In conjunction with imaging module 243 (also called a cameramodule), optical sensor 264 captures still images or video. In someembodiments, an optical sensor is located on the back of device 200,opposite touch screen display 212 on the front of the device so that thetouch screen display is used as a viewfinder for still and/or videoimage acquisition. In some embodiments, an optical sensor is located onthe front of the device so that the user's image is obtained for videoconferencing while the user views the other video conferenceparticipants on the touch screen display. In some embodiments, theposition of optical sensor 264 can be changed by the user (e.g., byrotating the lens and the sensor in the device housing) so that a singleoptical sensor 264 is used along with the touch screen display for bothvideo conferencing and still and/or video image acquisition.

Device 200 optionally also includes one or more contact intensitysensors 265. FIG. 2A shows a contact intensity sensor coupled tointensity sensor controller 259 in I/O subsystem 206. Contact intensitysensor 265 optionally includes one or more piezoresistive strain gauges,capacitive force sensors, electric force sensors, piezoelectric forcesensors, optical force sensors, capacitive touch-sensitive surfaces, orother intensity sensors (e.g., sensors used to measure the force (orpressure) of a contact on a touch-sensitive surface). Contact intensitysensor 265 receives contact intensity information (e.g., pressureinformation or a proxy for pressure information) from the environment.In some embodiments, at least one contact intensity sensor is collocatedwith, or proximate to, a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., touch-sensitivedisplay system 212). In some embodiments, at least one contact intensitysensor is located on the back of device 200, opposite touch screendisplay 212, which is located on the front of device 200.

Device 200 also includes one or more proximity sensors 266. FIG. 2Ashows proximity sensor 266 coupled to peripherals interface 218.Alternately, proximity sensor 266 is coupled to input controller 260 inI/O subsystem 206. Proximity sensor 266 is performed as described inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/241,839, “Proximity Detector InHandheld Device”; Ser. No. 11/240,788, “Proximity Detector In HandheldDevice”; Ser. No. 11/620,702, “Using Ambient Light Sensor To AugmentProximity Sensor Output”; Ser. No. 11/586,862, “Automated Response ToAnd Sensing Of User Activity In Portable Devices”; and Ser. No.11/638,251, “Methods And Systems For Automatic Configuration OfPeripherals,” which are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety. In some embodiments, the proximity sensor turns off anddisables touch screen 212 when the multifunction device is placed nearthe user's ear (e.g., when the user is making a phone call).

Device 200 optionally also includes one or more tactile outputgenerators 267. FIG. 2A shows a tactile output generator coupled tohaptic feedback controller 261 in I/O subsystem 206. Tactile outputgenerator 267 optionally includes one or more electroacoustic devicessuch as speakers or other audio components and/or electromechanicaldevices that convert energy into linear motion such as a motor,solenoid, electroactive polymer, piezoelectric actuator, electrostaticactuator, or other tactile output generating component (e.g., acomponent that converts electrical signals into tactile outputs on thedevice). Contact intensity sensor 265 receives tactile feedbackgeneration instructions from haptic feedback module 233 and generatestactile outputs on device 200 that are capable of being sensed by a userof device 200. In some embodiments, at least one tactile outputgenerator is collocated with, or proximate to, a touch-sensitive surface(e.g., touch-sensitive display system 212) and, optionally, generates atactile output by moving the touch-sensitive surface vertically (e.g.,in/out of a surface of device 200) or laterally (e.g., back and forth inthe same plane as a surface of device 200). In some embodiments, atleast one tactile output generator sensor is located on the back ofdevice 200, opposite touch screen display 212, which is located on thefront of device 200.

Device 200 also includes one or more accelerometers 268. FIG. 2A showsaccelerometer 268 coupled to peripherals interface 218. Alternately,accelerometer 268 is coupled to an input controller 260 in I/O subsystem206. Accelerometer 268 performs, for example, as described in U.S.Patent Publication No. 20050190059, “Acceleration-based Theft DetectionSystem for Portable Electronic Devices,” and U.S. Patent Publication No.20060017692, “Methods And Apparatuses For Operating A Portable DeviceBased On An Accelerometer,” both of which are incorporated by referenceherein in their entirety. In some embodiments, information is displayedon the touch screen display in a portrait view or a landscape view basedon an analysis of data received from the one or more accelerometers.Device 200 optionally includes, in addition to accelerometer(s) 268, amagnetometer (not shown) and a GPS (or GLONASS or other globalnavigation system) receiver (not shown) for obtaining informationconcerning the location and orientation (e.g., portrait or landscape) ofdevice 200.

In some embodiments, the software components stored in memory 202include operating system 226, communication module (or set ofinstructions) 228, contact/motion module (or set of instructions) 230,graphics module (or set of instructions) 232, text input module (or setof instructions) 234, Global Positioning System (GPS) module (or set ofinstructions) 235, Digital Assistant Client Module 229, and applications(or sets of instructions) 236. Further, memory 202 stores data andmodels, such as user data and models 231. Furthermore, in someembodiments, memory 202 (FIG. 2A) or 470 (FIG. 4) stores device/globalinternal state 257, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 4. Device/global internalstate 257 includes one or more of: active application state, indicatingwhich applications, if any, are currently active; display state,indicating what applications, views or other information occupy variousregions of touch screen display 212; sensor state, including informationobtained from the device's various sensors and input control devices216; and location information concerning the device's location and/orattitude.

Operating system 226 (e.g., Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X, iOS,WINDOWS, or an embedded operating system such as VxWorks) includesvarious software components and/or drivers for controlling and managinggeneral system tasks (e.g., memory management, storage device control,power management, etc.) and facilitates communication between varioushardware and software components.

Communication module 228 facilitates communication with other devicesover one or more external ports 224 and also includes various softwarecomponents for handling data received by RF circuitry 208 and/orexternal port 224. External port 224 (e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB),FIREWIRE, etc.) is adapted for coupling directly to other devices orindirectly over a network (e.g., the Internet, wireless LAN, etc.). Insome embodiments, the external port is a multi-pin (e.g., 30-pin)connector that is the same as, or similar to and/or compatible with, the30-pin connector used on iPod® (trademark of Apple Inc.) devices.

Contact/motion module 230 optionally detects contact with touch screen212 (in conjunction with display controller 256) and othertouch-sensitive devices (e.g., a touchpad or physical click wheel).Contact/motion module 230 includes various software components forperforming various operations related to detection of contact, such asdetermining if contact has occurred (e.g., detecting a finger-downevent), determining an intensity of the contact (e.g., the force orpressure of the contact or a substitute for the force or pressure of thecontact), determining if there is movement of the contact and trackingthe movement across the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., detecting one ormore finger-dragging events), and determining if the contact has ceased(e.g., detecting a finger-up event or a break in contact).Contact/motion module 230 receives contact data from the touch-sensitivesurface. Determining movement of the point of contact, which isrepresented by a series of contact data, optionally includes determiningspeed (magnitude), velocity (magnitude and direction), and/or anacceleration (a change in magnitude and/or direction) of the point ofcontact. These operations are, optionally, applied to single contacts(e.g., one finger contacts) or to multiple simultaneous contacts (e.g.,“multitouch”/multiple finger contacts). In some embodiments,contact/motion module 230 and display controller 256 detect contact on atouchpad.

In some embodiments, contact/motion module 230 uses a set of one or moreintensity thresholds to determine whether an operation has beenperformed by a user (e.g., to determine whether a user has “clicked” onan icon). In some embodiments, at least a subset of the intensitythresholds are determined in accordance with software parameters (e.g.,the intensity thresholds are not determined by the activation thresholdsof particular physical actuators and can be adjusted without changingthe physical hardware of device 200). For example, a mouse “click”threshold of a trackpad or touch screen display can be set to any of alarge range of predefined threshold values without changing the trackpador touch screen display hardware. Additionally, in some implementations,a user of the device is provided with software settings for adjustingone or more of the set of intensity thresholds (e.g., by adjustingindividual intensity thresholds and/or by adjusting a plurality ofintensity thresholds at once with a system-level click “intensity”parameter).

Contact/motion module 230 optionally detects a gesture input by a user.Different gestures on the touch-sensitive surface have different contactpatterns (e.g., different motions, timings, and/or intensities ofdetected contacts). Thus, a gesture is, optionally, detected bydetecting a particular contact pattern. For example, detecting a fingertap gesture includes detecting a finger-down event followed by detectinga finger-up (liftoff) event at the same position (or substantially thesame position) as the finger-down event (e.g., at the position of anicon). As another example, detecting a finger swipe gesture on thetouch-sensitive surface includes detecting a finger-down event followedby detecting one or more finger-dragging events, and subsequentlyfollowed by detecting a finger-up (liftoff) event.

Graphics module 232 includes various known software components forrendering and displaying graphics on touch screen 212 or other display,including components for changing the visual impact (e.g., brightness,transparency, saturation, contrast, or other visual property) ofgraphics that are displayed. As used herein, the term “graphics”includes any object that can be displayed to a user, including, withoutlimitation, text, web pages, icons (such as user-interface objectsincluding soft keys), digital images, videos, animations, and the like.

In some embodiments, graphics module 232 stores data representinggraphics to be used. Each graphic is, optionally, assigned acorresponding code. Graphics module 232 receives, from applicationsetc., one or more codes specifying graphics to be displayed along with,if necessary, coordinate data and other graphic property data, and thengenerates screen image data to output to display controller 256.

Haptic feedback module 233 includes various software components forgenerating instructions used by tactile output generator(s) 267 toproduce tactile outputs at one or more locations on device 200 inresponse to user interactions with device 200.

Text input module 234, which is, in some examples, a component ofgraphics module 232, provides soft keyboards for entering text invarious applications (e.g., contacts 237, email 240, IM 241, browser247, and any other application that needs text input).

GPS module 235 determines the location of the device and provides thisinformation for use in various applications (e.g., to telephone 238 foruse in location-based dialing; to camera 243 as picture/video metadata;and to applications that provide location-based services such as weatherwidgets, local yellow page widgets, and map/navigation widgets).

Digital assistant client module 229 includes various client-side digitalassistant instructions to provide the client-side functionalities of thedigital assistant. For example, digital assistant client module 229 iscapable of accepting voice input (e.g., speech input), text input, touchinput, and/or gestural input through various user interfaces (e.g.,microphone 213, accelerometer(s) 268, touch-sensitive display system212, optical sensor(s) 229, other input control devices 216, etc.) ofportable multifunction device 200. Digital assistant client module 229is also capable of providing output in audio (e.g., speech output),visual, and/or tactile forms through various output interfaces (e.g.,speaker 211, touch-sensitive display system 212, tactile outputgenerator(s) 267, etc.) of portable multifunction device 200. Forexample, output is provided as voice, sound, alerts, text messages,menus, graphics, videos, animations, vibrations, and/or combinations oftwo or more of the above. During operation, digital assistant clientmodule 229 communicates with DA server 106 using RF circuitry 208.

User data and models 231 include various data associated with the user(e.g., user-specific vocabulary data, user preference data,user-specified name pronunciations, data from the user's electronicaddress book, to-do lists, shopping lists, etc.) to provide theclient-side functionalities of the digital assistant. Further, user dataand models 231 include various models (e.g., speech recognition models,statistical language models, natural language processing models,ontology, task flow models, service models, etc.) for processing userinput and determining user intent.

In some examples, digital assistant client module 229 utilizes thevarious sensors, subsystems, and peripheral devices of portablemultifunction device 200 to gather additional information from thesurrounding environment of the portable multifunction device 200 toestablish a context associated with a user, the current userinteraction, and/or the current user input. In some examples, digitalassistant client module 229 provides the contextual information or asubset thereof with the user input to DA server 106 to help infer theuser's intent. In some examples, the digital assistant also uses thecontextual information to determine how to prepare and deliver outputsto the user. Contextual information is referred to as context data.

In some examples, the contextual information that accompanies the userinput includes sensor information, e.g., lighting, ambient noise,ambient temperature, images or videos of the surrounding environment,etc. In some examples, the contextual information can also include thephysical state of the device, e.g., device orientation, device location,device temperature, power level, speed, acceleration, motion patterns,cellular signals strength, etc. In some examples, information related tothe software state of DA server 106, e.g., running processes, installedprograms, past and present network activities, background services,error logs, resources usage, etc., and of portable multifunction device200 is provided to DA server 106 as contextual information associatedwith a user input.

In some examples, the digital assistant client module 229 selectivelyprovides information (e.g., user data 231) stored on the portablemultifunction device 200 in response to requests from DA server 106. Insome examples, digital assistant client module 229 also elicitsadditional input from the user via a natural language dialogue or otheruser interfaces upon request by DA server 106. Digital assistant clientmodule 229 passes the additional input to DA server 106 to help DAserver 106 in intent deduction and/or fulfillment of the user's intentexpressed in the user request.

A more detailed description of a digital assistant is described belowwith reference to FIGS. 7A-7C. It should be recognized that digitalassistant client module 229 can include any number of the sub-modules ofdigital assistant module 726 described below.

Applications 236 include the following modules (or sets ofinstructions), or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   Contacts module 237 (sometimes called an address book or contact        list);    -   Telephone module 238;    -   Video conference module 239;    -   E-mail client module 240;    -   Instant messaging (IM) module 241;    -   Workout support module 242;    -   Camera module 243 for still and/or video images;    -   Image management module 244;    -   Video player module;    -   Music player module;    -   Browser module 247;    -   Calendar module 248;    -   Widget modules 249, which includes, in some examples, one or        more of: weather widget 249-1, stocks widget 249-2, calculator        widget 249-3, alarm clock widget 249-4, dictionary widget 249-5,        and other widgets obtained by the user, as well as user-created        widgets 249-6;    -   Widget creator module 250 for making user-created widgets 249-6;    -   Search module 251;    -   Video and music player module 252, which merges video player        module and music player module;    -   Notes module 253;    -   Map module 254; and/or    -   Online video module 255.

Examples of other applications 236 that are stored in memory 202 includeother word processing applications, other image editing applications,drawing applications, presentation applications, JAVA-enabledapplications, encryption, digital rights management, voice recognition,and voice replication.

In conjunction with touch screen 212, display controller 256,contact/motion module 230, graphics module 232, and text input module234, contacts module 237 are used to manage an address book or contactlist (e.g., stored in application internal state 292 of contacts module237 in memory 202 or memory 470), including: adding name(s) to theaddress book; deleting name(s) from the address book; associatingtelephone number(s), e-mail address(es), physical address(es) or otherinformation with a name; associating an image with a name; categorizingand sorting names; providing telephone numbers or e-mail addresses toinitiate and/or facilitate communications by telephone 238, videoconference module 239, e-mail 240, or IM 241; and so forth.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 208, audio circuitry 210, speaker 211,microphone 213, touch screen 212, display controller 256, contact/motionmodule 230, graphics module 232, and text input module 234, telephonemodule 238 are used to enter a sequence of characters corresponding to atelephone number, access one or more telephone numbers in contactsmodule 237, modify a telephone number that has been entered, dial arespective telephone number, conduct a conversation, and disconnect orhang up when the conversation is completed. As noted above, the wirelesscommunication uses any of a plurality of communications standards,protocols, and technologies.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 208, audio circuitry 210, speaker 211,microphone 213, touch screen 212, display controller 256, optical sensor264, optical sensor controller 258, contact/motion module 230, graphicsmodule 232, text input module 234, contacts module 237, and telephonemodule 238, video conference module 239 includes executable instructionsto initiate, conduct, and terminate a video conference between a userand one or more other participants in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 208, touch screen 212, displaycontroller 256, contact/motion module 230, graphics module 232, and textinput module 234, e-mail client module 240 includes executableinstructions to create, send, receive, and manage e-mail in response touser instructions. In conjunction with image management module 244,e-mail client module 240 makes it very easy to create and send e-mailswith still or video images taken with camera module 243.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 208, touch screen 212, displaycontroller 256, contact/motion module 230, graphics module 232, and textinput module 234, the instant messaging module 241 includes executableinstructions to enter a sequence of characters corresponding to aninstant message, to modify previously entered characters, to transmit arespective instant message (for example, using a Short Message Service(SMS) or Multimedia Message Service (MMS) protocol for telephony-basedinstant messages or using XMPP, SIMPLE, or IMPS for Internet-basedinstant messages), to receive instant messages, and to view receivedinstant messages. In some embodiments, transmitted and/or receivedinstant messages include graphics, photos, audio files, video filesand/or other attachments as are supported in an MMS and/or an EnhancedMessaging Service (EMS). As used herein, “instant messaging” refers toboth telephony-based messages (e.g., messages sent using SMS or MMS) andInternet-based messages (e.g., messages sent using XMPP, SIMPLE, orIMPS).

In conjunction with RF circuitry 208, touch screen 212, displaycontroller 256, contact/motion module 230, graphics module 232, textinput module 234, GPS module 235, map module 254, and music playermodule, workout support module 242 includes executable instructions tocreate workouts (e.g., with time, distance, and/or calorie burninggoals); communicate with workout sensors (sports devices); receiveworkout sensor data; calibrate sensors used to monitor a workout; selectand play music for a workout; and display, store, and transmit workoutdata.

In conjunction with touch screen 212, display controller 256, opticalsensor(s) 264, optical sensor controller 258, contact/motion module 230,graphics module 232, and image management module 244, camera module 243includes executable instructions to capture still images or video(including a video stream) and store them into memory 202, modifycharacteristics of a still image or video, or delete a still image orvideo from memory 202.

In conjunction with touch screen 212, display controller 256,contact/motion module 230, graphics module 232, text input module 234,and camera module 243, image management module 244 includes executableinstructions to arrange, modify (e.g., edit), or otherwise manipulate,label, delete, present (e.g., in a digital slide show or album), andstore still and/or video images.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 208, touch screen 212, displaycontroller 256, contact/motion module 230, graphics module 232, and textinput module 234, browser module 247 includes executable instructions tobrowse the Internet in accordance with user instructions, includingsearching, linking to, receiving, and displaying web pages or portionsthereof, as well as attachments and other files linked to web pages.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 208, touch screen 212, displaycontroller 256, contact/motion module 230, graphics module 232, textinput module 234, e-mail client module 240, and browser module 247,calendar module 248 includes executable instructions to create, display,modify, and store calendars and data associated with calendars (e.g.,calendar entries, to-do lists, etc.) in accordance with userinstructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 208, touch screen 212, displaycontroller 256, contact/motion module 230, graphics module 232, textinput module 234, and browser module 247, widget modules 249 aremini-applications that can be downloaded and used by a user (e.g.,weather widget 249-1, stocks widget 249-2, calculator widget 249-3,alarm clock widget 249-4, and dictionary widget 249-5) or created by theuser (e.g., user-created widget 249-6). In some embodiments, a widgetincludes an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) file, a CSS (CascadingStyle Sheets) file, and a JavaScript file. In some embodiments, a widgetincludes an XML (Extensible Markup Language) file and a JavaScript file(e.g., Yahoo! Widgets).

In conjunction with RF circuitry 208, touch screen 212, displaycontroller 256, contact/motion module 230, graphics module 232, textinput module 234, and browser module 247, the widget creator module 250are used by a user to create widgets (e.g., turning a user-specifiedportion of a web page into a widget).

In conjunction with touch screen 212, display controller 256,contact/motion module 230, graphics module 232, and text input module234, search module 251 includes executable instructions to search fortext, music, sound, image, video, and/or other files in memory 202 thatmatch one or more search criteria (e.g., one or more user-specifiedsearch terms) in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with touch screen 212, display controller 256,contact/motion module 230, graphics module 232, audio circuitry 210,speaker 211, RF circuitry 208, and browser module 247, video and musicplayer module 252 includes executable instructions that allow the userto download and play back recorded music and other sound files stored inone or more file formats, such as MP3 or AAC files, and executableinstructions to display, present, or otherwise play back videos (e.g.,on touch screen 212 or on an external, connected display via externalport 224). In some embodiments, device 200 optionally includes thefunctionality of an MP3 player, such as an iPod (trademark of AppleInc.).

In conjunction with touch screen 212, display controller 256,contact/motion module 230, graphics module 232, and text input module234, notes module 253 includes executable instructions to create andmanage notes, to-do lists, and the like in accordance with userinstructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 208, touch screen 212, displaycontroller 256, contact/motion module 230, graphics module 232, textinput module 234, GPS module 235, and browser module 247, map module 254are used to receive, display, modify, and store maps and data associatedwith maps (e.g., driving directions, data on stores and other points ofinterest at or near a particular location, and other location-baseddata) in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with touch screen 212, display controller 256,contact/motion module 230, graphics module 232, audio circuitry 210,speaker 211, RF circuitry 208, text input module 234, e-mail clientmodule 240, and browser module 247, online video module 255 includesinstructions that allow the user to access, browse, receive (e.g., bystreaming and/or download), play back (e.g., on the touch screen or onan external, connected display via external port 224), send an e-mailwith a link to a particular online video, and otherwise manage onlinevideos in one or more file formats, such as H.264. In some embodiments,instant messaging module 241, rather than e-mail client module 240, isused to send a link to a particular online video. Additional descriptionof the online video application can be found in U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/936,562, “Portable Multifunction Device, Method, andGraphical User Interface for Playing Online Videos,” filed Jun. 20,2007, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/968,067, “PortableMultifunction Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for PlayingOnline Videos,” filed Dec. 31, 2007, the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety.

Each of the above-identified modules and applications corresponds to aset of executable instructions for performing one or more functionsdescribed above and the methods described in this application (e.g., thecomputer-implemented methods and other information processing methodsdescribed herein). These modules (e.g., sets of instructions) need notbe implemented as separate software programs, procedures, or modules,and thus various subsets of these modules can be combined or otherwiserearranged in various embodiments. For example, video player module canbe combined with music player module into a single module (e.g., videoand music player module 252, FIG. 2A). In some embodiments, memory 202stores a subset of the modules and data structures identified above.Furthermore, memory 202 stores additional modules and data structuresnot described above.

In some embodiments, device 200 is a device where operation of apredefined set of functions on the device is performed exclusivelythrough a touch screen and/or a touchpad. By using a touch screen and/ora touchpad as the primary input control device for operation of device200, the number of physical input control devices (such as push buttons,dials, and the like) on device 200 is reduced.

The predefined set of functions that are performed exclusively through atouch screen and/or a touchpad optionally include navigation betweenuser interfaces. In some embodiments, the touchpad, when touched by theuser, navigates device 200 to a main, home, or root menu from any userinterface that is displayed on device 200. In such embodiments, a “menubutton” is implemented using a touchpad. In some other embodiments, themenu button is a physical push button or other physical input controldevice instead of a touchpad.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating exemplary components for eventhandling in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments,memory 202 (FIG. 2A) or 470 (FIG. 4) includes event sorter 270 (e.g., inoperating system 226) and a respective application 236-1 (e.g., any ofthe aforementioned applications 237-251, 255, 480-490).

Event sorter 270 receives event information and determines theapplication 236-1 and application view 291 of application 236-1 to whichto deliver the event information. Event sorter 270 includes eventmonitor 271 and event dispatcher module 274. In some embodiments,application 236-1 includes application internal state 292, whichindicates the current application view(s) displayed on touch-sensitivedisplay 212 when the application is active or executing. In someembodiments, device/global internal state 257 is used by event sorter270 to determine which application(s) is (are) currently active, andapplication internal state 292 is used by event sorter 270 to determineapplication views 291 to which to deliver event information.

In some embodiments, application internal state 292 includes additionalinformation, such as one or more of: resume information to be used whenapplication 236-1 resumes execution, user interface state informationthat indicates information being displayed or that is ready for displayby application 236-1, a state queue for enabling the user to go back toa prior state or view of application 236-1, and a redo/undo queue ofprevious actions taken by the user.

Event monitor 271 receives event information from peripherals interface218. Event information includes information about a sub-event (e.g., auser touch on touch-sensitive display 212, as part of a multi-touchgesture). Peripherals interface 218 transmits information it receivesfrom I/O subsystem 206 or a sensor, such as proximity sensor 266,accelerometer(s) 268, and/or microphone 213 (through audio circuitry210). Information that peripherals interface 218 receives from I/Osubsystem 206 includes information from touch-sensitive display 212 or atouch-sensitive surface.

In some embodiments, event monitor 271 sends requests to the peripheralsinterface 218 at predetermined intervals. In response, peripheralsinterface 218 transmits event information. In other embodiments,peripherals interface 218 transmits event information only when there isa significant event (e.g., receiving an input above a predeterminednoise threshold and/or for more than a predetermined duration).

In some embodiments, event sorter 270 also includes a hit viewdetermination module 272 and/or an active event recognizer determinationmodule 273.

Hit view determination module 272 provides software procedures fordetermining where a sub-event has taken place within one or more viewswhen touch-sensitive display 212 displays more than one view. Views aremade up of controls and other elements that a user can see on thedisplay.

Another aspect of the user interface associated with an application is aset of views, sometimes herein called application views or userinterface windows, in which information is displayed and touch-basedgestures occur. The application views (of a respective application) inwhich a touch is detected correspond to programmatic levels within aprogrammatic or view hierarchy of the application. For example, thelowest level view in which a touch is detected is called the hit view,and the set of events that are recognized as proper inputs is determinedbased, at least in part, on the hit view of the initial touch thatbegins a touch-based gesture.

Hit view determination module 272 receives information related to subevents of a touch-based gesture. When an application has multiple viewsorganized in a hierarchy, hit view determination module 272 identifies ahit view as the lowest view in the hierarchy which should handle thesub-event. In most circumstances, the hit view is the lowest level viewin which an initiating sub-event occurs (e.g., the first sub-event inthe sequence of sub-events that form an event or potential event). Oncethe hit view is identified by the hit view determination module 272, thehit view typically receives all sub-events related to the same touch orinput source for which it was identified as the hit view.

Active event recognizer determination module 273 determines which viewor views within a view hierarchy should receive a particular sequence ofsub-events. In some embodiments, active event recognizer determinationmodule 273 determines that only the hit view should receive a particularsequence of sub-events. In other embodiments, active event recognizerdetermination module 273 determines that all views that include thephysical location of a sub-event are actively involved views, andtherefore determines that all actively involved views should receive aparticular sequence of sub-events. In other embodiments, even if touchsub-events were entirely confined to the area associated with oneparticular view, views higher in the hierarchy would still remain asactively involved views.

Event dispatcher module 274 dispatches the event information to an eventrecognizer (e.g., event recognizer 280). In embodiments including activeevent recognizer determination module 273, event dispatcher module 274delivers the event information to an event recognizer determined byactive event recognizer determination module 273. In some embodiments,event dispatcher module 274 stores in an event queue the eventinformation, which is retrieved by a respective event receiver 282.

In some embodiments, operating system 226 includes event sorter 270.Alternatively, application 236-1 includes event sorter 270. In yet otherembodiments, event sorter 270 is a stand-alone module, or a part ofanother module stored in memory 202, such as contact/motion module 230.

In some embodiments, application 236-1 includes a plurality of eventhandlers 290 and one or more application views 291, each of whichincludes instructions for handling touch events that occur within arespective view of the application's user interface. Each applicationview 291 of the application 236-1 includes one or more event recognizers280. Typically, a respective application view 291 includes a pluralityof event recognizers 280. In other embodiments, one or more of eventrecognizers 280 are part of a separate module, such as a user interfacekit (not shown) or a higher level object from which application 236-1inherits methods and other properties. In some embodiments, a respectiveevent handler 290 includes one or more of: data updater 276, objectupdater 277, GUI updater 278, and/or event data 279 received from eventsorter 270. Event handler 290 utilizes or calls data updater 276, objectupdater 277, or GUI updater 278 to update the application internal state292. Alternatively, one or more of the application views 291 include oneor more respective event handlers 290. Also, in some embodiments, one ormore of data updater 276, object updater 277, and GUI updater 278 areincluded in a respective application view 291.

A respective event recognizer 280 receives event information (e.g.,event data 279) from event sorter 270 and identifies an event from theevent information. Event recognizer 280 includes event receiver 282 andevent comparator 284. In some embodiments, event recognizer 280 alsoincludes at least a subset of: metadata 283, and event deliveryinstructions 288 (which include sub-event delivery instructions).

Event receiver 282 receives event information from event sorter 270. Theevent information includes information about a sub-event, for example, atouch or a touch movement. Depending on the sub-event, the eventinformation also includes additional information, such as location ofthe sub-event. When the sub-event concerns motion of a touch, the eventinformation also includes speed and direction of the sub-event. In someembodiments, events include rotation of the device from one orientationto another (e.g., from a portrait orientation to a landscapeorientation, or vice versa), and the event information includescorresponding information about the current orientation (also calleddevice attitude) of the device.

Event comparator 284 compares the event information to predefined eventor sub-event definitions and, based on the comparison, determines anevent or sub event, or determines or updates the state of an event orsub-event. In some embodiments, event comparator 284 includes eventdefinitions 286. Event definitions 286 contain definitions of events(e.g., predefined sequences of sub-events), for example, event 1(287-1), event 2 (287-2), and others. In some embodiments, sub-events inan event (287) include, for example, touch begin, touch end, touchmovement, touch cancellation, and multiple touching. In one example, thedefinition for event 1 (287-1) is a double tap on a displayed object.The double tap, for example, comprises a first touch (touch begin) onthe displayed object for a predetermined phase, a first liftoff (touchend) for a predetermined phase, a second touch (touch begin) on thedisplayed object for a predetermined phase, and a second liftoff (touchend) for a predetermined phase. In another example, the definition forevent 2 (287-2) is a dragging on a displayed object. The dragging, forexample, comprises a touch (or contact) on the displayed object for apredetermined phase, a movement of the touch across touch-sensitivedisplay 212, and liftoff of the touch (touch end). In some embodiments,the event also includes information for one or more associated eventhandlers 290.

In some embodiments, event definition 287 includes a definition of anevent for a respective user-interface object. In some embodiments, eventcomparator 284 performs a hit test to determine which user-interfaceobject is associated with a sub-event. For example, in an applicationview in which three user-interface objects are displayed ontouch-sensitive display 212, when a touch is detected on touch-sensitivedisplay 212, event comparator 284 performs a hit test to determine whichof the three user-interface objects is associated with the touch(sub-event). If each displayed object is associated with a respectiveevent handler 290, the event comparator uses the result of the hit testto determine which event handler 290 should be activated. For example,event comparator 284 selects an event handler associated with thesub-event and the object triggering the hit test.

In some embodiments, the definition for a respective event (287) alsoincludes delayed actions that delay delivery of the event informationuntil after it has been determined whether the sequence of sub-eventsdoes or does not correspond to the event recognizer's event type.

When a respective event recognizer 280 determines that the series ofsub-events do not match any of the events in event definitions 286, therespective event recognizer 280 enters an event impossible, eventfailed, or event ended state, after which it disregards subsequentsub-events of the touch-based gesture. In this situation, other eventrecognizers, if any, that remain active for the hit view continue totrack and process sub-events of an ongoing touch-based gesture.

In some embodiments, a respective event recognizer 280 includes metadata283 with configurable properties, flags, and/or lists that indicate howthe event delivery system should perform sub-event delivery to activelyinvolved event recognizers. In some embodiments, metadata 283 includesconfigurable properties, flags, and/or lists that indicate how eventrecognizers interact, or are enabled to interact, with one another. Insome embodiments, metadata 283 includes configurable properties, flags,and/or lists that indicate whether sub-events are delivered to varyinglevels in the view or programmatic hierarchy.

In some embodiments, a respective event recognizer 280 activates eventhandler 290 associated with an event when one or more particularsub-events of an event are recognized. In some embodiments, a respectiveevent recognizer 280 delivers event information associated with theevent to event handler 290. Activating an event handler 290 is distinctfrom sending (and deferred sending) sub-events to a respective hit view.In some embodiments, event recognizer 280 throws a flag associated withthe recognized event, and event handler 290 associated with the flagcatches the flag and performs a predefined process.

In some embodiments, event delivery instructions 288 include sub-eventdelivery instructions that deliver event information about a sub-eventwithout activating an event handler. Instead, the sub-event deliveryinstructions deliver event information to event handlers associated withthe series of sub-events or to actively involved views. Event handlersassociated with the series of sub-events or with actively involved viewsreceive the event information and perform a predetermined process.

In some embodiments, data updater 276 creates and updates data used inapplication 236-1. For example, data updater 276 updates the telephonenumber used in contacts module 237, or stores a video file used in videoplayer module. In some embodiments, object updater 277 creates andupdates objects used in application 236-1. For example, object updater277 creates a new user-interface object or updates the position of auser-interface object. GUI updater 278 updates the GUI. For example, GUIupdater 278 prepares display information and sends it to graphics module232 for display on a touch-sensitive display.

In some embodiments, event handler(s) 290 includes or has access to dataupdater 276, object updater 277, and GUI updater 278. In someembodiments, data updater 276, object updater 277, and GUI updater 278are included in a single module of a respective application 236-1 orapplication view 291. In other embodiments, they are included in two ormore software modules.

It shall be understood that the foregoing discussion regarding eventhandling of user touches on touch-sensitive displays also applies toother forms of user inputs to operate multifunction devices 200 withinput devices, not all of which are initiated on touch screens. Forexample, mouse movement and mouse button presses, optionally coordinatedwith single or multiple keyboard presses or holds; contact movementssuch as taps, drags, scrolls, etc. on touchpads; pen stylus inputs;movement of the device; oral instructions; detected eye movements;biometric inputs; and/or any combination thereof are optionally utilizedas inputs corresponding to sub-events which define an event to berecognized.

FIG. 3 illustrates a portable multifunction device 200 having a touchscreen 212 in accordance with some embodiments. The touch screenoptionally displays one or more graphics within user interface (UI) 300.In this embodiment, as well as others described below, a user is enabledto select one or more of the graphics by making a gesture on thegraphics, for example, with one or more fingers 302 (not drawn to scalein the figure) or one or more styluses 303 (not drawn to scale in thefigure). In some embodiments, selection of one or more graphics occurswhen the user breaks contact with the one or more graphics. In someembodiments, the gesture optionally includes one or more taps, one ormore swipes (from left to right, right to left, upward and/or downward),and/or a rolling of a finger (from right to left, left to right, upwardand/or downward) that has made contact with device 200. In someimplementations or circumstances, inadvertent contact with a graphicdoes not select the graphic. For example, a swipe gesture that sweepsover an application icon optionally does not select the correspondingapplication when the gesture corresponding to selection is a tap.

Device 200 also includes one or more physical buttons, such as “home” ormenu button 304. As described previously, menu button 304 is used tonavigate to any application 236 in a set of applications that isexecuted on device 200. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the menubutton is implemented as a soft key in a GUI displayed on touch screen212.

In one embodiment, device 200 includes touch screen 212, menu button304, push button 306 for powering the device on/off and locking thedevice, volume adjustment button(s) 308, subscriber identity module(SIM) card slot 310, headset jack 312, and docking/charging externalport 224. Push button 306 is, optionally, used to turn the power on/offon the device by depressing the button and holding the button in thedepressed state for a predefined time interval; to lock the device bydepressing the button and releasing the button before the predefinedtime interval has elapsed; and/or to unlock the device or initiate anunlock process. In an alternative embodiment, device 200 also acceptsverbal input for activation or deactivation of some functions throughmicrophone 213. Device 200 also, optionally, includes one or morecontact intensity sensors 265 for detecting intensity of contacts ontouch screen 212 and/or one or more tactile output generators 267 forgenerating tactile outputs for a user of device 200.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary multifunction device with adisplay and a touch-sensitive surface in accordance with someembodiments. Device 400 need not be portable. In some embodiments,device 400 is a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a tablet computer,a multimedia player device, a navigation device, an educational device(such as a child's learning toy), a gaming system, or a control device(e.g., a home or industrial controller). Device 400 typically includesone or more processing units (CPUs) 410, one or more network or othercommunications interfaces 460, memory 470, and one or more communicationbuses 420 for interconnecting these components. Communication buses 420optionally include circuitry (sometimes called a chipset) thatinterconnects and controls communications between system components.Device 400 includes input/output (I/O) interface 430 comprising display440, which is typically a touch screen display. I/O interface 430 alsooptionally includes a keyboard and/or mouse (or other pointing device)450 and touchpad 455, tactile output generator 457 for generatingtactile outputs on device 400 (e.g., similar to tactile outputgenerator(s) 267 described above with reference to FIG. 2A), sensors 459(e.g., optical, acceleration, proximity, touch-sensitive, and/or contactintensity sensors similar to contact intensity sensor(s) 265 describedabove with reference to FIG. 2A). Memory 470 includes high-speed randomaccess memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM, or other random access solidstate memory devices; and optionally includes non-volatile memory, suchas one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storagedevices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid state storagedevices. Memory 470 optionally includes one or more storage devicesremotely located from CPU(s) 410. In some embodiments, memory 470 storesprograms, modules, and data structures analogous to the programs,modules, and data structures stored in memory 202 of portablemultifunction device 200 (FIG. 2A), or a subset thereof. Furthermore,memory 470 optionally stores additional programs, modules, and datastructures not present in memory 202 of portable multifunction device200. For example, memory 470 of device 400 optionally stores drawingmodule 480, presentation module 482, word processing module 484, websitecreation module 486, disk authoring module 488, and/or spreadsheetmodule 490, while memory 202 of portable multifunction device 200 (FIG.2A) optionally does not store these modules.

Each of the above-identified elements in FIG. 4 is, in some examples,stored in one or more of the previously mentioned memory devices. Eachof the above-identified modules corresponds to a set of instructions forperforming a function described above. The above-identified modules orprograms (e.g., sets of instructions) need not be implemented asseparate software programs, procedures, or modules, and thus varioussubsets of these modules are combined or otherwise rearranged in variousembodiments. In some embodiments, memory 470 stores a subset of themodules and data structures identified above. Furthermore, memory 470stores additional modules and data structures not described above.

Attention is now directed towards embodiments of user interfaces thatcan be implemented on, for example, portable multifunction device 200.

FIG. 5A illustrates an exemplary user interface for a menu ofapplications on portable multifunction device 200 in accordance withsome embodiments. Similar user interfaces are implemented on device 400.In some embodiments, user interface 500 includes the following elements,or a subset or superset thereof:

Signal strength indicator(s) 502 for wireless communication(s), such ascellular and Wi-Fi signals;

-   -   Time 504;    -   Bluetooth indicator 505;    -   Battery status indicator 506;    -   Tray 508 with icons for frequently used applications, such as:        -   Icon 516 for telephone module 238, labeled “Phone,” which            optionally includes an indicator 514 of the number of missed            calls or voicemail messages;        -   Icon 518 for e-mail client module 240, labeled “Mail,” which            optionally includes an indicator 510 of the number of unread            e-mails;        -   Icon 520 for browser module 247, labeled “Browser;” and        -   Icon 522 for video and music player module 252, also            referred to as iPod (trademark of Apple Inc.) module 252,            labeled “iPod;” and    -   Icons for other applications, such as:        -   Icon 524 for IM module 241, labeled “Messages;”        -   Icon 526 for calendar module 248, labeled “Calendar;”        -   Icon 528 for image management module 244, labeled “Photos;”        -   Icon 530 for camera module 243, labeled “Camera;”        -   Icon 532 for online video module 255, labeled “Online            Video;”        -   Icon 534 for stocks widget 249-2, labeled “Stocks;”        -   Icon 536 for map module 254, labeled “Maps;”        -   Icon 538 for weather widget 249-1, labeled “Weather;”        -   Icon 540 for alarm clock widget 249-4, labeled “Clock;”        -   Icon 542 for workout support module 242, labeled “Workout            Support;”        -   Icon 544 for notes module 253, labeled “Notes;” and        -   Icon 546 for a settings application or module, labeled            “Settings,” which provides access to settings for device 200            and its various applications 236.

It should be noted that the icon labels illustrated in FIG. 5A aremerely exemplary. For example, icon 522 for video and music playermodule 252 is optionally labeled “Music” or “Music Player.” Other labelsare, optionally, used for various application icons. In someembodiments, a label for a respective application icon includes a nameof an application corresponding to the respective application icon. Insome embodiments, a label for a particular application icon is distinctfrom a name of an application corresponding to the particularapplication icon.

FIG. 5B illustrates an exemplary user interface on a device (e.g.,device 400, FIG. 4) with a touch-sensitive surface 551 (e.g., a tabletor touchpad 455, FIG. 4) that is separate from the display 550 (e.g.,touch screen display 212). Device 400 also, optionally, includes one ormore contact intensity sensors (e.g., one or more of sensors 457) fordetecting intensity of contacts on touch-sensitive surface 551 and/orone or more tactile output generators 459 for generating tactile outputsfor a user of device 400.

Although some of the examples which follow will be given with referenceto inputs on touch screen display 212 (where the touch-sensitive surfaceand the display are combined), in some embodiments, the device detectsinputs on a touch-sensitive surface that is separate from the display,as shown in FIG. 5B. In some embodiments, the touch-sensitive surface(e.g., 551 in FIG. 5B) has a primary axis (e.g., 552 in FIG. 5B) thatcorresponds to a primary axis (e.g., 553 in FIG. 5B) on the display(e.g., 550). In accordance with these embodiments, the device detectscontacts (e.g., 560 and 562 in FIG. 5B) with the touch-sensitive surface551 at locations that correspond to respective locations on the display(e.g., in FIG. 5B, 560 corresponds to 568 and 562 corresponds to 570).In this way, user inputs (e.g., contacts 560 and 562, and movementsthereof) detected by the device on the touch-sensitive surface (e.g.,551 in FIG. 5B) are used by the device to manipulate the user interfaceon the display (e.g., 550 in FIG. 5B) of the multifunction device whenthe touch-sensitive surface is separate from the display. It should beunderstood that similar methods are, optionally, used for other userinterfaces described herein.

Additionally, while the following examples are given primarily withreference to finger inputs (e.g., finger contacts, finger tap gestures,finger swipe gestures), it should be understood that, in someembodiments, one or more of the finger inputs are replaced with inputfrom another input device (e.g., a mouse-based input or stylus input).For example, a swipe gesture is, optionally, replaced with a mouse click(e.g., instead of a contact) followed by movement of the cursor alongthe path of the swipe (e.g., instead of movement of the contact). Asanother example, a tap gesture is, optionally, replaced with a mouseclick while the cursor is located over the location of the tap gesture(e.g., instead of detection of the contact followed by ceasing to detectthe contact). Similarly, when multiple user inputs are simultaneouslydetected, it should be understood that multiple computer mice are,optionally, used simultaneously, or a mouse and finger contacts are,optionally, used simultaneously.

FIG. 6A illustrates exemplary personal electronic device 600. Device 600includes body 602. In some embodiments, device 600 includes some or allof the features described with respect to devices 200 and 400 (e.g.,FIGS. 2A-4). In some embodiments, device 600 has touch-sensitive displayscreen 604, hereafter touch screen 604. Alternatively, or in addition totouch screen 604, device 600 has a display and a touch-sensitivesurface. As with devices 200 and 400, in some embodiments, touch screen604 (or the touch-sensitive surface) has one or more intensity sensorsfor detecting intensity of contacts (e.g., touches) being applied. Theone or more intensity sensors of touch screen 604 (or thetouch-sensitive surface) provide output data that represents theintensity of touches. The user interface of device 600 responds totouches based on their intensity, meaning that touches of differentintensities can invoke different user interface operations on device600.

Techniques for detecting and processing touch intensity are found, forexample, in related applications: International Patent ApplicationSerial No. PCT/US2013/040061, titled “Device, Method, and Graphical UserInterface for Displaying User Interface Objects Corresponding to anApplication,” filed May 8, 2013, and International Patent ApplicationSerial No. PCT/US2013/069483, titled “Device, Method, and Graphical UserInterface for Transitioning Between Touch Input to Display OutputRelationships,” filed Nov. 11, 2013, each of which is herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety.

In some embodiments, device 600 has one or more input mechanisms 606 and608. Input mechanisms 606 and 608, if included, are physical. Examplesof physical input mechanisms include push buttons and rotatablemechanisms. In some embodiments, device 600 has one or more attachmentmechanisms. Such attachment mechanisms, if included, can permitattachment of device 600 with, for example, hats, eyewear, earrings,necklaces, shirts, jackets, bracelets, watch straps, chains, trousers,belts, shoes, purses, backpacks, and so forth. These attachmentmechanisms permit device 600 to be worn by a user.

FIG. 6B depicts exemplary personal electronic device 600. In someembodiments, device 600 includes some or all of the components describedwith respect to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 4. Device 600 has bus 612 thatoperatively couples I/O section 614 with one or more computer processors616 and memory 618. I/O section 614 is connected to display 604, whichcan have touch-sensitive component 622 and, optionally, touch-intensitysensitive component 624. In addition, I/O section 614 is connected withcommunication unit 630 for receiving application and operating systemdata, using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, near field communication (NFC), cellular,and/or other wireless communication techniques. Device 600 includesinput mechanisms 606 and/or 608. Input mechanism 606 is a rotatableinput device or a depressible and rotatable input device, for example.Input mechanism 608 is a button, in some examples.

Input mechanism 608 is a microphone, in some examples. Personalelectronic device 600 includes, for example, various sensors, such asGPS sensor 632, accelerometer 634, directional sensor 640 (e.g.,compass), gyroscope 636, motion sensor 638, and/or a combinationthereof, all of which are operatively connected to I/O section 614.

Memory 618 of personal electronic device 600 is a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium, for storing computer-executableinstructions, which, when executed by one or more computer processors616, for example, cause the computer processors to perform thetechniques and processes described below. The computer-executableinstructions, for example, are also stored and/or transported within anynon-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use by or inconnection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device,such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or othersystem that can fetch the instructions from the instruction executionsystem, apparatus, or device and execute the instructions. Personalelectronic device 600 is not limited to the components and configurationof FIG. 6B, but can include other or additional components in multipleconfigurations.

As used here, the term “affordance” refers to a user-interactivegraphical user interface object that is, for example, displayed on thedisplay screen of devices 200, 400, 600, 802, and/or 902 (FIGS. 2A, 4,6A-6B, 8A-8C, and 9A-9B). For example, an image (e.g., icon), a button,and text (e.g., hyperlink) each constitutes an affordance.

As used herein, the term “focus selector” refers to an input elementthat indicates a current part of a user interface with which a user isinteracting. In some implementations that include a cursor or otherlocation marker, the cursor acts as a “focus selector” so that when aninput (e.g., a press input) is detected on a touch-sensitive surface(e.g., touchpad 455 in FIG. 4 or touch-sensitive surface 551 in FIG. 5B)while the cursor is over a particular user interface element (e.g., abutton, window, slider or other user interface element), the particularuser interface element is adjusted in accordance with the detectedinput. In some implementations that include a touch screen display(e.g., touch-sensitive display system 212 in FIG. 2A or touch screen 212in FIG. 5A) that enables direct interaction with user interface elementson the touch screen display, a detected contact on the touch screen actsas a “focus selector” so that when an input (e.g., a press input by thecontact) is detected on the touch screen display at a location of aparticular user interface element (e.g., a button, window, slider, orother user interface element), the particular user interface element isadjusted in accordance with the detected input. In some implementations,focus is moved from one region of a user interface to another region ofthe user interface without corresponding movement of a cursor ormovement of a contact on a touch screen display (e.g., by using a tabkey or arrow keys to move focus from one button to another button); inthese implementations, the focus selector moves in accordance withmovement of focus between different regions of the user interface.Without regard to the specific form taken by the focus selector, thefocus selector is generally the user interface element (or contact on atouch screen display) that is controlled by the user so as tocommunicate the user's intended interaction with the user interface(e.g., by indicating, to the device, the element of the user interfacewith which the user is intending to interact). For example, the locationof a focus selector (e.g., a cursor, a contact, or a selection box) overa respective button while a press input is detected on thetouch-sensitive surface (e.g., a touchpad or touch screen) will indicatethat the user is intending to activate the respective button (as opposedto other user interface elements shown on a display of the device).

As used in the specification and claims, the term “characteristicintensity” of a contact refers to a characteristic of the contact basedon one or more intensities of the contact. In some embodiments, thecharacteristic intensity is based on multiple intensity samples. Thecharacteristic intensity is, optionally, based on a predefined number ofintensity samples, or a set of intensity samples collected during apredetermined time period (e.g., 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10seconds) relative to a predefined event (e.g., after detecting thecontact, prior to detecting liftoff of the contact, before or afterdetecting a start of movement of the contact, prior to detecting an endof the contact, before or after detecting an increase in intensity ofthe contact, and/or before or after detecting a decrease in intensity ofthe contact). A characteristic intensity of a contact is, optionallybased on one or more of: a maximum value of the intensities of thecontact, a mean value of the intensities of the contact, an averagevalue of the intensities of the contact, a top 10 percentile value ofthe intensities of the contact, a value at the half maximum of theintensities of the contact, a value at the 90 percent maximum of theintensities of the contact, or the like. In some embodiments, theduration of the contact is used in determining the characteristicintensity (e.g., when the characteristic intensity is an average of theintensity of the contact over time). In some embodiments, thecharacteristic intensity is compared to a set of one or more intensitythresholds to determine whether an operation has been performed by auser. For example, the set of one or more intensity thresholds includesa first intensity threshold and a second intensity threshold. In thisexample, a contact with a characteristic intensity that does not exceedthe first threshold results in a first operation, a contact with acharacteristic intensity that exceeds the first intensity threshold anddoes not exceed the second intensity threshold results in a secondoperation, and a contact with a characteristic intensity that exceedsthe second threshold results in a third operation. In some embodiments,a comparison between the characteristic intensity and one or morethresholds is used to determine whether or not to perform one or moreoperations (e.g., whether to perform a respective operation or forgoperforming the respective operation) rather than being used to determinewhether to perform a first operation or a second operation.

In some embodiments, a portion of a gesture is identified for purposesof determining a characteristic intensity. For example, atouch-sensitive surface receives a continuous swipe contacttransitioning from a start location and reaching an end location, atwhich point the intensity of the contact increases. In this example, thecharacteristic intensity of the contact at the end location is based ononly a portion of the continuous swipe contact, and not the entire swipecontact (e.g., only the portion of the swipe contact at the endlocation). In some embodiments, a smoothing algorithm is applied to theintensities of the swipe contact prior to determining the characteristicintensity of the contact. For example, the smoothing algorithmoptionally includes one or more of: an unweighted sliding-averagesmoothing algorithm, a triangular smoothing algorithm, a median filtersmoothing algorithm, and/or an exponential smoothing algorithm. In somecircumstances, these smoothing algorithms eliminate narrow spikes ordips in the intensities of the swipe contact for purposes of determininga characteristic intensity.

The intensity of a contact on the touch-sensitive surface ischaracterized relative to one or more intensity thresholds, such as acontact-detection intensity threshold, a light press intensitythreshold, a deep press intensity threshold, and/or one or more otherintensity thresholds. In some embodiments, the light press intensitythreshold corresponds to an intensity at which the device will performoperations typically associated with clicking a button of a physicalmouse or a trackpad. In some embodiments, the deep press intensitythreshold corresponds to an intensity at which the device will performoperations that are different from operations typically associated withclicking a button of a physical mouse or a trackpad. In someembodiments, when a contact is detected with a characteristic intensitybelow the light press intensity threshold (e.g., and above a nominalcontact-detection intensity threshold below which the contact is nolonger detected), the device will move a focus selector in accordancewith movement of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface withoutperforming an operation associated with the light press intensitythreshold or the deep press intensity threshold. Generally, unlessotherwise stated, these intensity thresholds are consistent betweendifferent sets of user interface figures.

An increase of characteristic intensity of the contact from an intensitybelow the light press intensity threshold to an intensity between thelight press intensity threshold and the deep press intensity thresholdis sometimes referred to as a “light press” input. An increase ofcharacteristic intensity of the contact from an intensity below the deeppress intensity threshold to an intensity above the deep press intensitythreshold is sometimes referred to as a “deep press” input. An increaseof characteristic intensity of the contact from an intensity below thecontact-detection intensity threshold to an intensity between thecontact-detection intensity threshold and the light press intensitythreshold is sometimes referred to as detecting the contact on thetouch-surface. A decrease of characteristic intensity of the contactfrom an intensity above the contact-detection intensity threshold to anintensity below the contact-detection intensity threshold is sometimesreferred to as detecting liftoff of the contact from the touch-surface.In some embodiments, the contact-detection intensity threshold is zero.In some embodiments, the contact-detection intensity threshold isgreater than zero.

In some embodiments described herein, one or more operations areperformed in response to detecting a gesture that includes a respectivepress input or in response to detecting the respective press inputperformed with a respective contact (or a plurality of contacts), wherethe respective press input is detected based at least in part ondetecting an increase in intensity of the contact (or plurality ofcontacts) above a press-input intensity threshold. In some embodiments,the respective operation is performed in response to detecting theincrease in intensity of the respective contact above the press-inputintensity threshold (e.g., a “down stroke” of the respective pressinput). In some embodiments, the press input includes an increase inintensity of the respective contact above the press-input intensitythreshold and a subsequent decrease in intensity of the contact belowthe press-input intensity threshold, and the respective operation isperformed in response to detecting the subsequent decrease in intensityof the respective contact below the press-input threshold (e.g., an “upstroke” of the respective press input).

In some embodiments, the device employs intensity hysteresis to avoidaccidental inputs sometimes termed “jitter,” where the device defines orselects a hysteresis intensity threshold with a predefined relationshipto the press-input intensity threshold (e.g., the hysteresis intensitythreshold is X intensity units lower than the press-input intensitythreshold or the hysteresis intensity threshold is 75%, 90%, or somereasonable proportion of the press-input intensity threshold). Thus, insome embodiments, the press input includes an increase in intensity ofthe respective contact above the press-input intensity threshold and asubsequent decrease in intensity of the contact below the hysteresisintensity threshold that corresponds to the press-input intensitythreshold, and the respective operation is performed in response todetecting the subsequent decrease in intensity of the respective contactbelow the hysteresis intensity threshold (e.g., an “up stroke” of therespective press input). Similarly, in some embodiments, the press inputis detected only when the device detects an increase in intensity of thecontact from an intensity at or below the hysteresis intensity thresholdto an intensity at or above the press-input intensity threshold and,optionally, a subsequent decrease in intensity of the contact to anintensity at or below the hysteresis intensity, and the respectiveoperation is performed in response to detecting the press input (e.g.,the increase in intensity of the contact or the decrease in intensity ofthe contact, depending on the circumstances).

For ease of explanation, the descriptions of operations performed inresponse to a press input associated with a press-input intensitythreshold or in response to a gesture including the press input are,optionally, triggered in response to detecting either: an increase inintensity of a contact above the press-input intensity threshold, anincrease in intensity of a contact from an intensity below thehysteresis intensity threshold to an intensity above the press-inputintensity threshold, a decrease in intensity of the contact below thepress-input intensity threshold, and/or a decrease in intensity of thecontact below the hysteresis intensity threshold corresponding to thepress-input intensity threshold. Additionally, in examples where anoperation is described as being performed in response to detecting adecrease in intensity of a contact below the press-input intensitythreshold, the operation is, optionally, performed in response todetecting a decrease in intensity of the contact below a hysteresisintensity threshold corresponding to, and lower than, the press-inputintensity threshold.

3. Digital Assistant System

FIG. 7A illustrates a block diagram of digital assistant system 700 inaccordance with various examples. In some examples, digital assistantsystem 700 is implemented on a standalone computer system. In someexamples, digital assistant system 700 is distributed across multiplecomputers. In some examples, some of the modules and functions of thedigital assistant are divided into a server portion and a clientportion, where the client portion resides on one or more user devices(e.g., devices 104, 122, 200, 400, 600, 802, or 902) and communicateswith the server portion (e.g., server system 108) through one or morenetworks, e.g., as shown in FIG. 1. In some examples, digital assistantsystem 700 is an implementation of server system 108 (and/or DA server106) shown in FIG. 1. It should be noted that digital assistant system700 is only one example of a digital assistant system, and that digitalassistant system 700 can have more or fewer components than shown, cancombine two or more components, or can have a different configuration orarrangement of the components. The various components shown in FIG. 7Aare implemented in hardware, software instructions for execution by oneor more processors, firmware, including one or more signal processingand/or application specific integrated circuits, or a combinationthereof.

Digital assistant system 700 includes memory 702, one or more processors704, input/output (I/O) interface 706, and network communicationsinterface 708. These components can communicate with one another overone or more communication buses or signal lines 710.

In some examples, memory 702 includes a non-transitory computer-readablemedium, such as high-speed random access memory and/or a non-volatilecomputer-readable storage medium (e.g., one or more magnetic diskstorage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid-statememory devices).

In some examples, I/O interface 706 couples input/output devices 716 ofdigital assistant system 700, such as displays, keyboards, touchscreens, and microphones, to user interface module 722. I/O interface706, in conjunction with user interface module 722, receives user inputs(e.g., voice input, keyboard inputs, touch inputs, etc.) and processesthem accordingly. In some examples, e.g., when the digital assistant isimplemented on a standalone user device, digital assistant system 700includes any of the components and I/O communication interfacesdescribed with respect to devices 200, 400, 600, 802, 902 in FIGS. 2A,4, 6A-6B, 8A-8C, and 9A-9B, respectively. In some examples, digitalassistant system 700 represents the server portion of a digitalassistant implementation, and can interact with the user through aclient-side portion residing on a user device (e.g., devices 104, 200,400, 600, 802, or 902).

In some examples, the network communications interface 708 includeswired communication port(s) 712 and/or wireless transmission andreception circuitry 714. The wired communication port(s) receives andsend communication signals via one or more wired interfaces, e.g.,Ethernet, Universal Serial Bus (USB), FIREWIRE, etc. The wirelesscircuitry 714 receives and sends RF signals and/or optical signalsfrom/to communications networks and other communications devices. Thewireless communications use any of a plurality of communicationsstandards, protocols, and technologies, such as GSM, EDGE, CDMA, TDMA,Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, VoIP, Wi-MAX, or any other suitable communicationprotocol. Network communications interface 708 enables communicationbetween digital assistant system 700 with networks, such as theInternet, an intranet, and/or a wireless network, such as a cellulartelephone network, a wireless local area network (LAN), and/or ametropolitan area network (MAN), and other devices.

In some examples, memory 702, or the computer-readable storage media ofmemory 702, stores programs, modules, instructions, and data structuresincluding all or a subset of: operating system 718, communicationsmodule 720, user interface module 722, one or more applications 724, anddigital assistant module 726. In particular, memory 702, or thecomputer-readable storage media of memory 702, stores instructions forperforming the processes described below. One or more processors 704execute these programs, modules, and instructions, and reads/writesfrom/to the data structures.

Operating system 718 (e.g., Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, iOS, OS X,WINDOWS, or an embedded operating system such as VxWorks) includesvarious software components and/or drivers for controlling and managinggeneral system tasks (e.g., memory management, storage device control,power management, etc.) and facilitates communications between varioushardware, firmware, and software components.

Communications module 720 facilitates communications between digitalassistant system 700 with other devices over network communicationsinterface 708. For example, communications module 720 communicates withRF circuitry 208 of electronic devices such as devices 200, 400, and 600shown in FIGS. 2A, 4, 6A-6B, respectively. Communications module 720also includes various components for handling data received by wirelesscircuitry 714 and/or wired communications port 712.

User interface module 722 receives commands and/or inputs from a uservia I/O interface 706 (e.g., from a keyboard, touch screen, pointingdevice, controller, and/or microphone), and generate user interfaceobjects on a display. User interface module 722 also prepares anddelivers outputs (e.g., speech, sound, animation, text, icons,vibrations, haptic feedback, light, etc.) to the user via the I/Ointerface 706 (e.g., through displays, audio channels, speakers,touch-pads, etc.).

Applications 724 include programs and/or modules that are configured tobe executed by one or more processors 704. For example, if the digitalassistant system is implemented on a standalone user device,applications 724 include user applications, such as games, a calendarapplication, a navigation application, or an email application. Ifdigital assistant system 700 is implemented on a server, applications724 include resource management applications, diagnostic applications,or scheduling applications, for example.

Memory 702 also stores digital assistant module 726 (or the serverportion of a digital assistant). In some examples, digital assistantmodule 726 includes the following sub-modules, or a subset or supersetthereof: input/output processing module 728, speech-to-text (STT)processing module 730, natural language processing module 732, dialogueflow processing module 734, task flow processing module 736, serviceprocessing module 738, and speech synthesis processing module 740. Eachof these modules has access to one or more of the following systems ordata and models of the digital assistant module 726, or a subset orsuperset thereof: ontology 760, vocabulary index 744, user data 748,task flow models 754, service models 756, and ASR systems 758.

In some examples, using the processing modules, data, and modelsimplemented in digital assistant module 726, the digital assistant canperform at least some of the following: converting speech input intotext; identifying a user's intent expressed in a natural language inputreceived from the user; actively eliciting and obtaining informationneeded to fully infer the user's intent (e.g., by disambiguating words,games, intentions, etc.); determining the task flow for fulfilling theinferred intent; and executing the task flow to fulfill the inferredintent.

In some examples, as shown in FIG. 7B, I/O processing module 728interacts with the user through I/O devices 716 in FIG. 7A or with auser device (e.g., devices 104, 200, 400, or 600) through networkcommunications interface 708 in FIG. 7A to obtain user input (e.g., aspeech input) and to provide responses (e.g., as speech outputs) to theuser input. I/O processing module 728 optionally obtains contextualinformation associated with the user input from the user device, alongwith or shortly after the receipt of the user input. The contextualinformation includes user-specific data, vocabulary, and/or preferencesrelevant to the user input. In some examples, the contextual informationalso includes software and hardware states of the user device at thetime the user request is received, and/or information related to thesurrounding environment of the user at the time that the user requestwas received. In some examples, I/O processing module 728 also sendsfollow-up questions to, and receive answers from, the user regarding theuser request. When a user request is received by I/O processing module728 and the user request includes speech input, I/O processing module728 forwards the speech input to STT processing module 730 (or speechrecognizer) for speech-to-text conversions.

STT processing module 730 includes one or more ASR systems 758. The oneor more ASR systems 758 can process the speech input that is receivedthrough I/O processing module 728 to produce a recognition result. EachASR system 758 includes a front-end speech pre-processor. The front-endspeech pre-processor extracts representative features from the speechinput. For example, the front-end speech pre-processor performs aFourier transform on the speech input to extract spectral features thatcharacterize the speech input as a sequence of representativemulti-dimensional vectors. Further, each ASR system 758 includes one ormore speech recognition models (e.g., acoustic models and/or languagemodels) and implements one or more speech recognition engines. Examplesof speech recognition models include Hidden Markov Models,Gaussian-Mixture Models, Deep Neural Network Models, n-gram languagemodels, and other statistical models. Examples of speech recognitionengines include the dynamic time warping based engines and weightedfinite-state transducers (WFST) based engines. The one or more speechrecognition models and the one or more speech recognition engines areused to process the extracted representative features of the front-endspeech pre-processor to produce intermediate recognitions results (e.g.,phonemes, phonemic strings, and sub-words), and ultimately, textrecognition results (e.g., words, word strings, or sequence of tokens).In some examples, the speech input is processed at least partially by athird-party service or on the user's device (e.g., device 104, 200, 400,or 600) to produce the recognition result. Once STT processing module730 produces recognition results containing a text string (e.g., words,or sequence of words, or sequence of tokens), the recognition result ispassed to natural language processing module 732 for intent deduction.In some examples, STT processing module 730 produces multiple candidatetext representations of the speech input. Each candidate textrepresentation is a sequence of words or tokens corresponding to thespeech input. In some examples, each candidate text representation isassociated with a speech recognition confidence score. Based on thespeech recognition confidence scores, STT processing module 730 ranksthe candidate text representations and provides the n-best (e.g., nhighest ranked) candidate text representation(s) to natural languageprocessing module 732 for intent deduction, where n is a predeterminedinteger greater than zero. For example, in one example, only the highestranked (n=1) candidate text representation is passed to natural languageprocessing module 732 for intent deduction. In another example, the fivehighest ranked (n=5) candidate text representations are passed tonatural language processing module 732 for intent deduction.

More details on the speech-to-text processing are described in U.S.Utility application Ser. No. 13/236,942 for “Consolidating SpeechRecognition Results,” filed on Sep. 20, 2011, the entire disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

In some examples, STT processing module 730 includes and/or accesses avocabulary of recognizable words via phonetic alphabet conversion module731. Each vocabulary word is associated with one or more candidatepronunciations of the word represented in a speech recognition phoneticalphabet. In particular, the vocabulary of recognizable words includes aword that is associated with a plurality of candidate pronunciations.For example, the vocabulary includes the word “tomato” that isassociated with the candidate pronunciations of /

/ and /

/. Further, vocabulary words are associated with custom candidatepronunciations that are based on previous speech inputs from the user.Such custom candidate pronunciations are stored in STT processing module730 and are associated with a particular user via the user's profile onthe device. In some examples, the candidate pronunciations for words aredetermined based on the spelling of the word and one or more linguisticand/or phonetic rules. In some examples, the candidate pronunciationsare manually generated, e.g., based on known canonical pronunciations.

In some examples, the candidate pronunciations are ranked based on thecommonness of the candidate pronunciation. For example, the candidatepronunciation /

/ is ranked higher than /

/, because the former is a more commonly used pronunciation (e.g., amongall users, for users in a particular geographical region, or for anyother appropriate subset of users). In some examples, candidatepronunciations are ranked based on whether the candidate pronunciationis a custom candidate pronunciation associated with the user. Forexample, custom candidate pronunciations are ranked higher thancanonical candidate pronunciations. This can be useful for recognizingproper nouns having a unique pronunciation that deviates from canonicalpronunciation. In some examples, candidate pronunciations are associatedwith one or more speech characteristics, such as geographic origin,nationality, or ethnicity. For example, the candidate pronunciation /

/ is associated with the United States, whereas the candidatepronunciation /

/ is associated with Great Britain. Further, the rank of the candidatepronunciation is based on one or more characteristics (e.g., geographicorigin, nationality, ethnicity, etc.) of the user stored in the user'sprofile on the device. For example, it can be determined from the user'sprofile that the user is associated with the United States. Based on theuser being associated with the United States, the candidatepronunciation /

/ (associated with the United States) is ranked higher than thecandidate pronunciation /

/ (associated with Great Britain). In some examples, one of the rankedcandidate pronunciations is selected as a predicted pronunciation (e.g.,the most likely pronunciation).

When a speech input is received, STT processing module 730 is used todetermine the phonemes corresponding to the speech input (e.g., using anacoustic model), and then attempt to determine words that match thephonemes (e.g., using a language model). For example, if STT processingmodule 730 first identifies the sequence of phonemes /

/ corresponding to a portion of the speech input, it can then determine,based on vocabulary index 744, that this sequence corresponds to theword “tomato.”

In some examples, STT processing module 730 uses approximate matchingtechniques to determine words in an utterance. Thus, for example, theSTT processing module 730 determines that the sequence of phonemes /

/ corresponds to the word “tomato,” even if that particular sequence ofphonemes is not one of the candidate sequence of phonemes for that word.

Natural language processing module 732 (“natural language processor”) ofthe digital assistant takes the n-best candidate text representation(s)(“word sequence(s)” or “token sequence(s)”) generated by STT processingmodule 730, and attempts to associate each of the candidate textrepresentations with one or more “actionable intents” recognized by thedigital assistant. An “actionable intent” (or “user intent”) representsa task that can be performed by the digital assistant, and can have anassociated task flow implemented in task flow models 754. The associatedtask flow is a series of programmed actions and steps that the digitalassistant takes in order to perform the task. The scope of a digitalassistant's capabilities is dependent on the number and variety of taskflows that have been implemented and stored in task flow models 754, orin other words, on the number and variety of “actionable intents” thatthe digital assistant recognizes. The effectiveness of the digitalassistant, however, also dependents on the assistant's ability to inferthe correct “actionable intent(s)” from the user request expressed innatural language.

In some examples, in addition to the sequence of words or tokensobtained from STT processing module 730, natural language processingmodule 732 also receives contextual information associated with the userrequest, e.g., from I/O processing module 728. The natural languageprocessing module 732 optionally uses the contextual information toclarify, supplement, and/or further define the information contained inthe candidate text representations received from STT processing module730. The contextual information includes, for example, user preferences,hardware, and/or software states of the user device, sensor informationcollected before, during, or shortly after the user request, priorinteractions (e.g., dialogue) between the digital assistant and theuser, and the like. As described herein, contextual information is, insome examples, dynamic, and changes with time, location, content of thedialogue, and other factors.

In some examples, the natural language processing is based on, e.g.,ontology 760. Ontology 760 is a hierarchical structure containing manynodes, each node representing either an “actionable intent” or a“property” relevant to one or more of the “actionable intents” or other“properties.” As noted above, an “actionable intent” represents a taskthat the digital assistant is capable of performing, i.e., it is“actionable” or can be acted on. A “property” represents a parameterassociated with an actionable intent or a sub-aspect of anotherproperty. A linkage between an actionable intent node and a propertynode in ontology 760 defines how a parameter represented by the propertynode pertains to the task represented by the actionable intent node.

In some examples, ontology 760 is made up of actionable intent nodes andproperty nodes. Within ontology 760, each actionable intent node islinked to one or more property nodes either directly or through one ormore intermediate property nodes. Similarly, each property node islinked to one or more actionable intent nodes either directly or throughone or more intermediate property nodes. For example, as shown in FIG.7C, ontology 760 includes a “restaurant reservation” node (i.e., anactionable intent node). Property nodes “restaurant,” “date/time” (forthe reservation), and “party size” are each directly linked to theactionable intent node (i.e., the “restaurant reservation” node).

In addition, property nodes “cuisine,” “price range,” “phone number,”and “location” are sub-nodes of the property node “restaurant,” and areeach linked to the “restaurant reservation” node (i.e., the actionableintent node) through the intermediate property node “restaurant.” Foranother example, as shown in FIG. 7C, ontology 760 also includes a “setreminder” node (i.e., another actionable intent node). Property nodes“date/time” (for setting the reminder) and “subject” (for the reminder)are each linked to the “set reminder” node. Since the property“date/time” is relevant to both the task of making a restaurantreservation and the task of setting a reminder, the property node“date/time” is linked to both the “restaurant reservation” node and the“set reminder” node in ontology 760.

An actionable intent node, along with its linked property nodes, isdescribed as a “domain.” In the present discussion, each domain isassociated with a respective actionable intent, and refers to the groupof nodes (and the relationships there between) associated with theparticular actionable intent. For example, ontology 760 shown in FIG. 7Cincludes an example of restaurant reservation domain 762 and an exampleof reminder domain 764 within ontology 760. The restaurant reservationdomain includes the actionable intent node “restaurant reservation,”property nodes “restaurant,” “date/time,” and “party size,” andsub-property nodes “cuisine,” “price range,” “phone number,” and“location.” Reminder domain 764 includes the actionable intent node “setreminder,” and property nodes “subject” and “date/time.” In someexamples, ontology 760 is made up of many domains. Each domain sharesone or more property nodes with one or more other domains. For example,the “date/time” property node is associated with many different domains(e.g., a scheduling domain, a travel reservation domain, a movie ticketdomain, etc.), in addition to restaurant reservation domain 762 andreminder domain 764.

While FIG. 7C illustrates two example domains within ontology 760, otherdomains include, for example, “find a movie,” “initiate a phone call,”“find directions,” “schedule a meeting,” “send a message,” and “providean answer to a question,” “read a list,” “providing navigationinstructions,” “provide instructions for a task” and so on. A “send amessage” domain is associated with a “send a message” actionable intentnode, and further includes property nodes such as “recipient(s),”“message type,” and “message body.” The property node “recipient” isfurther defined, for example, by the sub-property nodes such as“recipient name” and “message address.”

In some examples, ontology 760 includes all the domains (and henceactionable intents) that the digital assistant is capable ofunderstanding and acting upon. In some examples, ontology 760 ismodified, such as by adding or removing entire domains or nodes, or bymodifying relationships between the nodes within the ontology 760.

In some examples, nodes associated with multiple related actionableintents are clustered under a “super domain” in ontology 760. Forexample, a “travel” super-domain includes a cluster of property nodesand actionable intent nodes related to travel. The actionable intentnodes related to travel includes “airline reservation,” “hotelreservation,” “car rental,” “get directions,” “find points of interest,”and so on. The actionable intent nodes under the same super domain(e.g., the “travel” super domain) have many property nodes in common.For example, the actionable intent nodes for “airline reservation,”“hotel reservation,” “car rental,” “get directions,” and “find points ofinterest” share one or more of the property nodes “start location,”“destination,” “departure date/time,” “arrival date/time,” and “partysize.”

In some examples, each node in ontology 760 is associated with a set ofwords and/or phrases that are relevant to the property or actionableintent represented by the node. The respective set of words and/orphrases associated with each node are the so-called “vocabulary”associated with the node. The respective set of words and/or phrasesassociated with each node are stored in vocabulary index 744 inassociation with the property or actionable intent represented by thenode. For example, returning to FIG. 7B, the vocabulary associated withthe node for the property of “restaurant” includes words such as “food,”“drinks,” “cuisine,” “hungry,” “eat,” “pizza,” “fast food,” “meal,” andso on. For another example, the vocabulary associated with the node forthe actionable intent of “initiate a phone call” includes words andphrases such as “call,” “phone,” “dial,” “ring,” “call this number,”“make a call to,” and so on. The vocabulary index 744 optionallyincludes words and phrases in different languages.

Natural language processing module 732 receives the candidate textrepresentations (e.g., text string(s) or token sequence(s)) from STTprocessing module 730, and for each candidate representation, determineswhat nodes are implicated by the words in the candidate textrepresentation. In some examples, if a word or phrase in the candidatetext representation is found to be associated with one or more nodes inontology 760 (via vocabulary index 744), the word or phrase “triggers”or “activates” those nodes. Based on the quantity and/or relativeimportance of the activated nodes, natural language processing module732 selects one of the actionable intents as the task that the userintended the digital assistant to perform. In some examples, the domainthat has the most “triggered” nodes is selected. In some examples, thedomain having the highest confidence value (e.g., based on the relativeimportance of its various triggered nodes) is selected. In someexamples, the domain is selected based on a combination of the numberand the importance of the triggered nodes. In some examples, additionalfactors are considered in selecting the node as well, such as whetherthe digital assistant has previously correctly interpreted a similarrequest from a user.

User data 748 includes user-specific information, such as user-specificvocabulary, user preferences, user address, user's default and secondarylanguages, user's contact list, and other short-term or long-terminformation for each user. In some examples, natural language processingmodule 732 uses the user-specific information to supplement theinformation contained in the user input to further define the userintent. For example, for a user request “invite my friends to mybirthday party,” natural language processing module 732 is able toaccess user data 748 to determine who the “friends” are and when andwhere the “birthday party” would be held, rather than requiring the userto provide such information explicitly in his/her request.

It should be recognized that in some examples, natural languageprocessing module 732 is implemented using one or more machine learningmechanisms (e.g., neural networks). In particular, the one or moremachine learning mechanisms are configured to receive a candidate textrepresentation and contextual information associated with the candidatetext representation. Based on the candidate text representation and theassociated contextual information, the one or more machine learningmechanisms are configured to determine intent confidence scores over aset of candidate actionable intents. Natural language processing module732 can select one or more candidate actionable intents from the set ofcandidate actionable intents based on the determined intent confidencescores. In some examples, an ontology (e.g., ontology 760) is also usedto select the one or more candidate actionable intents from the set ofcandidate actionable intents.

Other details of searching an ontology based on a token string aredescribed in U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 12/341,743 for “Methodand Apparatus for Searching Using An Active Ontology,” filed Dec. 22,2008, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

In some examples, once natural language processing module 732 identifiesan actionable intent (or domain) based on the user request, naturallanguage processing module 732 generates a structured query to representthe identified actionable intent. In some examples, the structured queryincludes parameters for one or more nodes within the domain for theactionable intent, and at least some of the parameters are populatedwith the specific information and requirements specified in the userrequest. For example, the user says “Make me a dinner reservation at asushi place at 7.” In this case, natural language processing module 732is able to correctly identify the actionable intent to be “restaurantreservation” based on the user input. According to the ontology, astructured query for a “restaurant reservation” domain includesparameters such as {Cuisine}, {Time}, {Date}, {Party Size}, and thelike. In some examples, based on the speech input and the text derivedfrom the speech input using STT processing module 730, natural languageprocessing module 732 generates a partial structured query for therestaurant reservation domain, where the partial structured queryincludes the parameters {Cuisine=“Sushi”} and {Time=“7 pm”}. However, inthis example, the user's utterance contains insufficient information tocomplete the structured query associated with the domain. Therefore,other necessary parameters such as {Party Size} and {Date} are notspecified in the structured query based on the information currentlyavailable. In some examples, natural language processing module 732populates some parameters of the structured query with receivedcontextual information. For example, in some examples, if the userrequested a sushi restaurant “near me,” natural language processingmodule 732 populates a {location} parameter in the structured query withGPS coordinates from the user device.

In some examples, natural language processing module 732 identifiesmultiple candidate actionable intents for each candidate textrepresentation received from STT processing module 730. Further, in someexamples, a respective structured query (partial or complete) isgenerated for each identified candidate actionable intent. Naturallanguage processing module 732 determines an intent confidence score foreach candidate actionable intent and ranks the candidate actionableintents based on the intent confidence scores. In some examples, naturallanguage processing module 732 passes the generated structured query (orqueries), including any completed parameters, to task flow processingmodule 736 (“task flow processor”). In some examples, the structuredquery (or queries) for the m-best (e.g., m highest ranked) candidateactionable intents are provided to task flow processing module 736,where m is a predetermined integer greater than zero. In some examples,the structured query (or queries) for the m-best candidate actionableintents are provided to task flow processing module 736 with thecorresponding candidate text representation(s).

Other details of inferring a user intent based on multiple candidateactionable intents determined from multiple candidate textrepresentations of a speech input are described in U.S. Utilityapplication Ser. No. 14/298,725 for “System and Method for InferringUser Intent From Speech Inputs,” filed Jun. 6, 2014, the entiredisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Task flow processing module 736 is configured to receive the structuredquery (or queries) from natural language processing module 732, completethe structured query, if necessary, and perform the actions required to“complete” the user's ultimate request. In some examples, the variousprocedures necessary to complete these tasks are provided in task flowmodels 754. In some examples, task flow models 754 include proceduresfor obtaining additional information from the user and task flows forperforming actions associated with the actionable intent.

As described above, in order to complete a structured query, task flowprocessing module 736 needs to initiate additional dialogue with theuser in order to obtain additional information, and/or disambiguatepotentially ambiguous utterances. When such interactions are necessary,task flow processing module 736 invokes dialogue flow processing module734 to engage in a dialogue with the user. In some examples, dialogueflow processing module 734 determines how (and/or when) to ask the userfor the additional information and receives and processes the userresponses. The questions are provided to and answers are received fromthe users through I/O processing module 728. In some examples, dialogueflow processing module 734 presents dialogue output to the user viaaudio and/or visual output, and receives input from the user via spokenor physical (e.g., clicking) responses. Continuing with the exampleabove, when task flow processing module 736 invokes dialogue flowprocessing module 734 to determine the “party size” and “date”information for the structured query associated with the domain“restaurant reservation,” dialogue flow processing module 734 generatesquestions such as “For how many people?” and “On which day?” to pass tothe user. Once answers are received from the user, dialogue flowprocessing module 734 then populates the structured query with themissing information, or pass the information to task flow processingmodule 736 to complete the missing information from the structuredquery.

Once task flow processing module 736 has completed the structured queryfor an actionable intent, task flow processing module 736 proceeds toperform the ultimate task associated with the actionable intent.Accordingly, task flow processing module 736 executes the steps andinstructions in the task flow model according to the specific parameterscontained in the structured query. For example, the task flow model forthe actionable intent of “restaurant reservation” includes steps andinstructions for contacting a restaurant and actually requesting areservation for a particular party size at a particular time. Forexample, using a structured query such as: {restaurant reservation,restaurant=ABC Café, date=3/12/2012, time=7 pm, party size=5}, task flowprocessing module 736 performs the steps of: (1) logging onto a serverof the ABC Café or a restaurant reservation system such as OPENTABLE®,(2) entering the date, time, and party size information in a form on thewebsite, (3) submitting the form, and (4) making a calendar entry forthe reservation in the user's calendar.

In some examples, task flow processing module 736 employs the assistanceof service processing module 738 (“service processing module”) tocomplete a task requested in the user input or to provide aninformational answer requested in the user input. For example, serviceprocessing module 738 acts on behalf of task flow processing module 736to make a phone call, set a calendar entry, invoke a map search, invokeor interact with other user applications installed on the user device,and invoke or interact with third-party services (e.g., a restaurantreservation portal, a social networking website, a banking portal,etc.). In some examples, the protocols and application programminginterfaces (API) required by each service are specified by a respectiveservice model among service models 756. Service processing module 738accesses the appropriate service model for a service and generatesrequests for the service in accordance with the protocols and APIsrequired by the service according to the service model.

For example, if a restaurant has enabled an online reservation service,the restaurant submits a service model specifying the necessaryparameters for making a reservation and the APIs for communicating thevalues of the necessary parameter to the online reservation service.When requested by task flow processing module 736, service processingmodule 738 establishes a network connection with the online reservationservice using the web address stored in the service model, and sends thenecessary parameters of the reservation (e.g., time, date, party size)to the online reservation interface in a format according to the API ofthe online reservation service.

In some examples, natural language processing module 732, dialogue flowprocessing module 734, and task flow processing module 736 are usedcollectively and iteratively to infer and define the user's intent,obtain information to further clarify and refine the user intent, andfinally generate a response (i.e., an output to the user, or thecompletion of a task) to fulfill the user's intent. The generatedresponse is a dialogue response to the speech input that at leastpartially fulfills the user's intent. Further, in some examples, thegenerated response is output as a speech output. In these examples, thegenerated response is sent to speech synthesis processing module 740(e.g., speech synthesizer) where it can be processed to synthesize thedialogue response in speech form. In yet other examples, the generatedresponse is data content relevant to satisfying a user request in thespeech input.

In examples where task flow processing module 736 receives multiplestructured queries from natural language processing module 732, taskflow processing module 736 initially processes the first structuredquery of the received structured queries to attempt to complete thefirst structured query and/or execute one or more tasks or actionsrepresented by the first structured query. In some examples, the firststructured query corresponds to the highest ranked actionable intent. Inother examples, the first structured query is selected from the receivedstructured queries based on a combination of the corresponding speechrecognition confidence scores and the corresponding intent confidencescores. In some examples, if task flow processing module 736 encountersan error during processing of the first structured query (e.g., due toan inability to determine a necessary parameter), the task flowprocessing module 736 can proceed to select and process a secondstructured query of the received structured queries that corresponds toa lower ranked actionable intent. The second structured query isselected, for example, based on the speech recognition confidence scoreof the corresponding candidate text representation, the intentconfidence score of the corresponding candidate actionable intent, amissing necessary parameter in the first structured query, or anycombination thereof.

Speech synthesis processing module 740 is configured to synthesizespeech outputs for presentation to the user. Speech synthesis processingmodule 740 synthesizes speech outputs based on text provided by thedigital assistant. For example, the generated dialogue response is inthe form of a text string. Speech synthesis processing module 740converts the text string to an audible speech output. Speech synthesisprocessing module 740 uses any appropriate speech synthesis technique inorder to generate speech outputs from text, including, but not limited,to concatenative synthesis, unit selection synthesis, diphone synthesis,domain-specific synthesis, formant synthesis, articulatory synthesis,hidden Markov model (HMM) based synthesis, and sinewave synthesis. Insome examples, speech synthesis processing module 740 is configured tosynthesize individual words based on phonemic strings corresponding tothe words. For example, a phonemic string is associated with a word inthe generated dialogue response. The phonemic string is stored inmetadata associated with the word. Speech synthesis processing module740 is configured to directly process the phonemic string in themetadata to synthesize the word in speech form.

In some examples, instead of (or in addition to) using speech synthesisprocessing module 740, speech synthesis is performed on a remote device(e.g., the server system 108), and the synthesized speech is sent to theuser device for output to the user. For example, this can occur in someimplementations where outputs for a digital assistant are generated at aserver system. And because server systems generally have more processingpower or resources than a user device, it is possible to obtain higherquality speech outputs than would be practical with client-sidesynthesis.

Additional details on digital assistants can be found in the U.S.Utility application Ser. No. 12/987,982, entitled “Intelligent AutomatedAssistant,” filed Jan. 10, 2011, and U.S. Utility application Ser. No.13/251,088, entitled “Generating and Processing Task Items ThatRepresent Tasks to Perform,” filed Sep. 30, 2011, the entire disclosuresof which are incorporated herein by reference.

5. Techniques for Processing a Natural Language Request

FIG. 8A illustrates a textual representation of a natural language inputat electronic device 802, according to some examples. Device 802 is, forexample, similar or the same as device 200 or 400, described above. Insome examples, device 802 includes the modules and functions of adigital assistant described above in FIGS. 7A-7C. In some examples,device 802 includes the components and functions of system 800 and/or900 (FIGS. 8B and 9C), described below.

Device 802 receives a natural language input (e.g., from a user). Thenatural language input is recognized (e.g., using STT processing module730) and device 802 displays a textual representation of the recognizednatural language input (e.g., “Play Cheap of You by Ed Sheeran”) on adisplay.

In some examples, the recognized natural language input includes one ormore words incorrectly representing a named entity (e.g., an object thatmay be given a proper name). For example, the recognized naturallanguage input includes “Cheap of You,” which is an incorrectrepresentation of the song “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran. In someexamples, the natural language input was incorrectly recognized due touser error (e.g., the user incorrectly said “Cheap of You”) and/or dueto a speech recognition error (e.g., the user correctly said “Shape ofYou” but the input was incorrectly recognized as “Cheap of You”).

As the present example demonstrates, sometimes, the incorrect word(s) ofnatural language input approximately match (e.g., are a fuzzy match to)the correct word(s). Techniques for determining whether two sets ofwords are a valid fuzzy match to each other are discussed below withrespect to FIGS. 9A-9C. However, in other examples, word(s) of thenatural language input do not approximately match the correct word(s).For example, when the correct word(s) represent a named entity, thewords(s) of the natural language input may represent an alias for thenamed entity. For example, the named entity of the song “Yes Indeed” bythe music artist Drake is often referred to by the alias “Pikachu”(e.g., when users request the song “Pikachu,” they are requesting thesong titled “Yes Indeed”).

When recognized natural language input includes an incorrectrepresentation of a named entity (and/or an alias for a named entity),an incorrect task may be performed and/or a task may fail to beperformed. For example, when a user correctly provides the naturallanguage input “Play Shape of You by Ed Sheeran” to device 802, but thenatural language input was incorrectly recognized as “Play Cheap of Youby Ed Sheeran,” device 802 may fail to find a correct media item basedon the input and/or may output an error message (e.g., “Sorry, Icouldn't find Cheap of You by Ed Sheeran”).

FIG. 8B depicts system 800 for processing natural language requests inaccordance with some examples. In some examples, system 800 isimplemented on a standalone computer system (e.g., on device 802). Insome examples, system 800 is distributed across multiple devices. Insome examples, some of the modules and functions of system 800 aredivided into a server portion and a client portion, where the clientportion resides on one or more user devices (e.g., devices 104, 122,200, 400, 600, or 802) and communicates with the server portion (e.g.,server system 108) through one or more networks, e.g., as shown inFIG. 1. System 800 is implemented using hardware, software, or acombination of hardware and software to carry out the principlesdiscussed herein. In some examples, the modules and functions of system800 are implemented within a digital assistant module and/or system 800includes the modules of the digital assistant module, discussed abovewith respect to FIGS. 7A-7B.

It should be noted that system 800 is exemplary, and thus system 800 canhave more or fewer components than shown, can combine two or morecomponents, or can have a different configuration or arrangement of thecomponents. Further, although the below discussion describes functionsbeing performed at a single component of system 800, it is to beunderstood that such functions can be performed at other components ofsystem 800 and that such functions can be performed at more than onecomponent of system 800.

System 800 includes named entity model 804. In some examples, namedentity model 804 receives natural language input (e.g., “Play Cheap ofYou by Ed Sheeran”). In some examples, named entity model 804 identifiesthat one or more words of the natural language input incorrectlyrepresent a named entity and determines a correct representation for thenamed entity. For example, named entity model 804 identifies that “Cheapof You” is an incorrect representation of the song “Shape of You” andmay cause the song “Shape of You” to be played based on the naturallanguage input. In this way, digital assistants may correctly performtasks, despite the presence of errors in recognized natural languageinput.

In some examples, system 800 determines a domain corresponding toreceived natural language input (e.g., using the techniques andcomponents discussed above with respect to FIGS. 7A-7C). In the presentexample, the domain is determined to be the media domain. The mediadomain is a domain (e.g., a domain of ontology 760) associated with theactionable intents of searching for and playing media items such assongs, movies, books, video games etc. However, in some examples, thedetermined domain corresponding to the natural language input is adomain other than the media domain. For example, the determined domainis a geographical domain (e.g., a domain of ontology 760 associated withthe actionable intent of searching for geographical locations such asrestaurants, movie theatres, cities, parks, etc.).

In some examples, in accordance with determining the domaincorresponding to the natural language input, system 800 determines,based on the natural language input, one or more respective values forone or more respective properties of the domain (e.g., using thetechniques and components discussed above with respect to FIGS. 7A-7C).For example, the media domain includes the properties of musicTitle andmusicArtist and respective values for these properties respectivelyindicate a title of a media item and an artist of a media item. In thepresent example, first and second values of “Cheap of You” and “EdSheeran” are respectively determined for the media domain propertiesmusicTitle and musicArtist. In some examples, at least one of the valuesrepresents a named entity (e.g., the first value “Cheap of You”represents the named entity “Shape of You”). In some examples, the namedentity includes a media item (e.g., a song), a person (e.g., EdSheeran), a location (e.g., a restaurant), or a software application(e.g., Twitter).

In some examples, after determining respective value(s) for thepropert(ies) of the domain, system 800 determines another value for atleast one of the propert(ies) using named entity model 804. For example,named entity model 804 receives the natural language input anddetermines a third value (e.g., the third value “Shape of You”) for adomain property (e.g., the musicTitle media domain property). In someexamples, named entity model 804 replaces the first value with the thirdvalue. Accordingly, in some examples, the musicTitle domain property nolonger has the value “Cheap of You,” but now has the value “Shape ofYou.” In some examples, the third value and the first value representthe same named entity (e.g., both “Cheap of You” and “Shape of You”represent the named entity of the song “Shape of You”) and the thirdvalue correctly represents the named entity. In some examples, the firstvalue (e.g., “Pikachu”) represents an alias for a named entity (e.g.,recall that “Pikachu” is an alias for the song “Yes Indeed” by Drake)and the third value (e.g., “Yes Indeed”) correctly represents (e.g., isthe standard representation of) the named entity.

In this manner, using named entity model 804, system 800 can identifyincorrect representations of one or more named entities (e.g., “Cheap ofYou” and “Pikachu”) and determine respectively correct representationsof the one or more named entities (e.g., “Shape of You” and “YesIndeed.) Named entity model 804 is now discussed in greater detail.

In some examples, named entity model 804 includes one or more ofmappings of an incorrect representation of a named entity to a correctrepresentation of the named entity. For example, named entity model 804maps “Cheap of You,” “Cape of You,” “See of You,” “Shake on You,” “Shapeof u,” “Save of You,” “Shape on You,” and “Shake of You” (each incorrectrepresentations of the song “Shape of You”) to the correctrepresentation “Shape of You.” Accordingly, if a determined value for adomain property matches an incorrect representation of a named entityincluded in a mapping, in some examples, named entity model 804 uses themapping to determine the correct representation of the named entity. Insome examples, the correct representation of the named entity isdetermined as a value (e.g., a replacement value) for a domain property.

In some examples, one or more tries (or any other suitable search tree)represent the one or more mappings included in named entity model 804.Accordingly, in some examples, a determined value for a domain property(e.g., “Cheap of You”) is a key in the one or more tries and the valuecorresponding to the key is another value (e.g., a replacement valuesuch as “Shape of You”). Thus, in some examples, if a determined valueis a key corresponding to another value represented by the one or moretries, the determined value is determined to be an incorrectrepresentation of a named entity and the another value is determined tobe a correct representation of the named entity. Accordingly, in someexamples, named entity model 804 determines the correct representationof the named entity (e.g., the another value) as a replacement value fora domain property.

As the present example demonstrates, named entity model 804 mapsapproximate (e.g., fuzzy) representations of a named entity to thecorrect representation of the named entity. As discussed below, theapproximate representations of the named entity may each representcommon natural language recognition errors/and or common spoken errorsof the named entity. For example, “Shape of You” may commonly betranscribed as “Cheap of You” and/or users may commonly mispronounce“Shape of You” as “Cheap of You.” Accordingly, named entity model 804can be used to identify and correct common named entity errors innatural language input.

In some examples, named entity model 804 maps one or more aliases of anamed entity to the correct (e.g., standard) representation of the namedentity. For example, named entity model 804 maps “Pikachu” to “YesIndeed.” In this manner, user's providing natural language inputsincluding an alias for a named entity may still have tasks performed asintended (e.g., device 802 correctly plays “Yes Indeed” by Drakeresponsive to the natural language input “Play Pikachu by Drake”).

In some examples, each mapping included in named entity model 804satisfies one or more predetermined rules. In some examples, each of theone or more predetermined rules specifies a condition for arepresentation of a named entity included in a mapping. As discussedbelow, having each mapping included in named entity model 804 satisfyone or more rules may allow for more accurate tasks to be performedbased on natural language input.

An exemplary rule specifies that an incorrect representation of a songtitle (by an artist) cannot be mapped to a song title by the same artistif the incorrect representation is closer (e.g., in edit distance) toanother song title by the same artist. For example, the incorrectrepresentation “lemee” (an incorrect representation of the song “lemon”by the artist Rihanna) cannot be mapped to the song title “lemon.” Thisis because Rihanna has another song titled “lemme get that” that iscloser in edit distance to “lemee,” than to “lemon.”

An exemplary rule specifies that an incorrect representation of a songtitle (by an artist) cannot be mapped to a song title by the same artistif the incorrect representation is included in another song title by thesame artist. For example, the incorrect representation “with me” (anincorrect representation of the song “with you” by the artist Drake)cannot be mapped to the song title “with you.” This is because Drake hasanother song titled “u with me.”

An exemplary rule specifies that an incorrect representation of a musicartist cannot be mapped to a correct representation of another musicartist. For example, the incorrect representation of “the beach boy” (anincorrect representation of the music artist “the beach boys”) cannot bemapped to the artist “the Beatles.” Otherwise, when a user requests asong by “the beach boy,” a song by “the Beatles” may be incorrectlyplayed.

In some examples, recognized natural language input indicates multiplenamed entities. For example, the natural language input “play BeachBoys” may be considered to indicate the named entities of “Beach” and“Boys.” In some examples, when a mapping includes multiplerepresentations of respective named entities (e.g., a mapping maps themultiple representations of “Beach” and “Boys” respectively to “Beatles”and “Boys”), an exemplary rule specifies that the multiplerepresentations cannot correctly represent another named entity when themultiple representations are concatenated. For example, because themultiple representations “Beach” and “Boys” match the named entity of“Beach Boys” (a music artist), when concatenated, the mapping of “Beach”and “Boys” to respective values is not included in named entity model804. In this way, erroneous output of the song “Boys” by the Beatles maybe prevented responsive to the correct input “Play Beach Boys.”

In some examples, named entity model 804 includes a machine learnedmodel (e.g., a neural network). In some examples, named entity model 804determines candidate representations of a named entity based on receivednatural language input. More specifically, based on natural languageinput (and/or determined respective value(s) for domain propert(ies)),the machine learned model determines a plurality of values for aproperty of a domain. The machine learned model further determinesrespective rankings (and/or confidence scores) for each value of theplurality of values. The respective ranking for a value represents aconfidence (e.g., confidence score) that the value correctly representsa named entity (e.g., such that a higher ranked value more likelycorrectly represents a named entity than a lower ranked value). Forexample, based on the natural language input “Play Cheap of You by EdSheeran” and the determined first value “Cheap of You,” the machinelearned model determines the values “Shape of You,” “Cheap Shoes” and“Shake on You” (each values for the musicTitle domain property). Ofthese values, “Shape of You” is determined to have the highest ranking.Techniques for training a machine learned model to determine candidaterepresentations of a named entity (and their respective rankings) arediscussed below with respect to FIGS. 9A-9C.

In some examples, a value determined by named entity model 804 isidentified to replace a previously determined value based on therespective ranking (and/or confidence score) of the value. For example,named entity model 804 identifies the value of “Shape of You” from theplurality of values because it has the highest ranking and causes “Shapeof You” to replace the previously determined first value “Cheap of You.”

In some examples, named entity model 804 determines a ranking for avalue based on determining a similarity score between the value and apreviously determined value. In some examples, the similarity score isbased on a character level similarity score, a semantic similarityscore, and/or a phonetic similarity score. In some examples, a high(e.g., greater than a threshold) similarity score for a value increasesa ranking for the value, while a low similarity score for a valuedecreases the ranking for the value. For example, the value of “Shape ofYou” has a high ranking because “Shape of You” is determined to besimilar to the previously determined value “Cheap of You.”

In some examples, named entity model 804 determines a ranking for avalue based on a frequency with which the value is mapped to apreviously determined value. As discussed with respect to FIGS. 9A-9Cbelow, in some examples, the frequency with which a value is mapped to apreviously determined value (e.g., “Shape of You” to “Cheap of You”) isdetermined from user engagement data. In some examples, if the frequencywith which the value is mapped to the previously determined value ishigh (e.g., above a threshold frequency), the ranking of the value isincreased. In some examples, if the frequency with which the value ismapped to the previously determined value is low, the ranking of thevalue is decreased.

System 800 includes knowledge base 806. In some examples, knowledge base806 includes one or more information databases including data items(e.g., the iTunes® database by Apple Inc., a database includingrestaurant information, etc.) As discussed below, named entity model 804uses information from knowledge base 806 (e.g., indicating that a valuecorresponds to a song, an artist, an album, etc.) when determining oneor more values and/or their respective rankings, in some examples. Inthis manner, knowledge 806 may be used to increase the accuracy withwhich named entity model 804 determines correct representations of namedentities.

In some examples, named entity model 804 determines one or more valuesfor a property of a domain (and/or their respective rankings) usingknowledge base 806. For example, each of the one or more valuesdetermined by named entity model 804 corresponds to a data item includedin knowledge base 806. For example, the determined values of “Shape ofYou,” “Cheap Shoes,” and “Shake on you” each correspond to data items(e.g., song titles) included in knowledge base 806. In this manner, insome examples, a value that does not correspond to a data item includedin knowledge base 806 (e.g., a value not likely to represent any namedentity), is not determined by named entity model 804.

In some examples, named entity model 804 determines respective rankingsof the one or more values using knowledge base 806 and context data. Insome examples, the context data is associated with the previouslydetermined value for a domain property. For example, the context dataincludes the domain property corresponding to the previously determinedvalue (e.g., the domain property of musicTitle corresponding to thepreviously determined value “Cheap of You”).

In some examples, named entity model 804 uses knowledge base 806 todetermine whether a value corresponds to the domain property. Forexample, named entity model 804 determines that “Shape of You”corresponds to the musicTitle domain property because “Shape of You” isa song title (as indicated by knowledge base 806). In some examples, ifa value corresponds to the domain property, the ranking of the value isincreased. In some examples, if a value does not correspond to thedomain property, the ranking of the value is decreased (or the value isnot determined by named entity model 804). Thus, using knowledge base806 may allow a previously determined value (e.g., “Cheap of You”) to bereplaced with another value (e.g., “Shape of You”) for the same domainproperty as the previously determined value.

In some examples, the context data includes one or more words in thenatural language input from which the previously determined value wasdetermined. For example, context data associated with the previouslydetermined value “Cheap of You” includes the words “Ed Sheeran” and“Play” (recall that the value “Cheap of You” was determined from thenatural language input “Play Cheap of You by Ed Sheeran”). In someexamples, named entity model 804 uses knowledge base 806 to determinewhether a value corresponds to the context data. In some examples, avalue corresponds to the context data if one or more features of thevalue (e.g., a corresponding album, artist, song name, value type (e.g.,media item, location, restaurant), etc.) corresponds to the contextdata.

For example, knowledge base 806 indicates that the value “Shape of You”corresponds to the context data of “Ed Sheeran” because “Shape of You”has the feature of Ed Sheeran (e.g., “Shape of You” is a song by EdSheeran). Knowledge base 806 further indicates that the values of “CheapShoes” and “Shake on You” do not correspond to the context data of “EdSheeran” because “Cheap Shoes” and “Shake on You” are not songs by EdSheeran. In some examples, if a value corresponds to the context data,the ranking of the value is increased. In some examples, if a value doesnot correspond to the context data, the ranking of the value isdecreased. In this manner, natural language input including a namedentity error can be used as context to more accurately identify thecorrection for the named entity error.

As another example of named entity model 804 using context data andknowledge base 806 to determine respective rankings of one or morevalues, consider the natural language input “Play the album tenty five.”Here, “tenty five” is an incorrect representation of the album “25” bythe artist Adele. Based on the natural language input, named entitymodel 804 determines the values of “25,” “twenty six,” and “ten five.”Knowledge base 806 indicates that “25” corresponds to an album, “twentysix” corresponds to a restaurant name, and “ten five” corresponds to asong name. Because the value “25” corresponds to the context data of“album” (recall that the natural language input includes the word“album”), the value of “25” has a high ranking. Further, in someexamples, named entity model 804 determines that the context data of“play” corresponds to a user intent of searching for media items (e.g.,using the techniques discussed above with respect to FIGS. 7A-7C). Namedentity model 804 thus determines that the value of “twenty six” does notcorrespond to the context data of “play” because “twenty six”corresponds to a restaurant name, not to the user intent of searchingfor media items. Accordingly, in some examples, the value of “twentysix” has a low ranking. In this manner, using context data and knowledgebase 806, named entity model determines “25” as the correctrepresentation of the named entity.

In some examples, named entity model 804 determines that a previouslydetermined value (e.g., the first value “Cheap of You”) includes anincorrect (e.g., inaccurate) representation of a named entity. Asdescribed, in some examples, such determination includes determiningthat named entity model 804 includes a mapping associating thepreviously determined value with another value. For example, if namedentity model 804 includes the mapping of “Cheap of You” to “Shape ofYou,” the previously determined value of “Cheap of You” is determined toinclude an incorrect representation of a named entity.

In some examples, named entity model 804 determines that a previouslydetermined value includes an incorrect representation of a named entityby determining a confidence score. In some examples, the confidencescore is a confidence score for a mapping associating the previouslydetermined value with another value. In some examples, the confidencescore for the mapping is a confidence score determined by named entitymodel 804 that the another value correctly represents a named entity. Insome examples, if the confidence score exceeds a threshold, thepreviously determined value is determined to include an incorrectrepresentation of a named entity. For example, as discussed, namedentity model 804 determines the mappings of the previously determinedvalue “Cheap of You” to the values “Shape of You,” “Cheap Shoes” and“Shake on You.” The value of “Shape of You” has a high confidence score(e.g., a high ranking) and thus the mapping of “Cheap of You” to “Shapeof You” has the same high confidence score (e.g., a confidence scoreexceeding the threshold). Accordingly, the value of “Cheap of You” isdetermined to include an incorrect representation of a named entity.

In some examples, named entity model 804 determines another value for apreviously determined value in accordance with determining that thepreviously determined value includes an incorrect representation of thenamed entity. For example, after named entity model 804 determines that“Cheap of You” is an incorrect representation of a named entity, namedentity model 804 determines the value “Shape of You” for the musicTitledomain property (and/or replaces “Cheap of You” with “Shape of You”).Thus, in some examples, only domain propert(ies) having respectivevalue(s) incorrectly representing a named entity have further valuesdetermined (e.g., no further value is determined for the musicArtistdomain property because “Ed Sheeran” is a correct representation of anamed entity).

In some examples, analogously to the above described techniques, namedentity model 804 identifies and corrects named entity errors before adomain corresponding to the natural language input is determined. Forexample, named entity model 804 identifies the words “Cheap of You” asan incorrect representation of a named entity and determines the correctrepresentation “Shape of You.” In some examples, named entity model 804modifies the natural language input to include the correctrepresentation. For example, the natural language input “Play Cheap ofYou by Ed Sheeran” is modified to “Play Shape of You by Ed Sheeran.” Insome examples, a corresponding domain (and/or respective values forproperties of the domain) is then determined for the modified naturallanguage input. For example, the modified natural language input isprocessed (e.g., as described in FIGS. 7A-7C) to determine thecorresponding media domain, the value “Shape of You” for the musicTitledomain property, and the value “Ed Sheeran” for the musicArtist domainproperty.

In some examples, the modified natural language input is output (e.g.,through a display and/or through audio output) by device 802. Forexample, after displaying the natural language input “Play Cheap of Youby Ed Sheeran,” device 802 displays the modified natural language input“Play Shape of You by Ed Sheeran.” As another example, device 802provides output (e.g., audio output), asking “Did you mean play Shape ofYou by Ed Sheeran?” A user of device 802 may then confirm themodification (e.g., by responding “Yes”) or reject the modification(e.g., by responding “No” and/or by manually editing the modifiednatural language input). Outputting modified natural language input mayadvantageously indicate that device 802 has identified and corrected anamed entity error in natural language input, which may advantageouslymake digital assistants appear more intelligent and user-friendly.

In some examples, a value determined for a property of a domain definesa parameter for a task corresponding to the natural language input. Forexample, the value “Shape of You” defines a parameter for the task ofsearching for media items.

In some examples, a task is performed (e.g., by device 802) based on thedefined parameter (e.g., as described above with respect to FIGS.7A-7C). In some examples, performing the task includes searching for amedia item (e.g., searching for the song “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran).In some examples, performing the task includes searching for a location(e.g., a restaurant, a movie theatre, a park, etc.). For example, if thenatural language input is “Where is GR Dano's pizza?” (where “GR Dano'spizza” is an incorrect representation of the named entity “Giordano'sPizza”), a correct search for “Giordano's Pizza” can be performed.

FIG. 8C illustrates device output responsive to receiving naturallanguage input, according to some examples. For example, FIG. 8Cillustrates output of device 802 after receiving the natural languageinput “Play Cheap of You by Ed Sheeran” shown in FIG. 8A (and aftercorrecting the named entity error as discussed). For example, device 802provides a result based on the performed task. For example, as shown inFIG. 8C, device 802 displays the output “Okay, Playing Shape of You byEd Sheeran” and/or plays the song. In this manner, a correct output isprovided, despite the presence of a named entity error in recognizednatural language input.

6. Techniques for Training a Named Entity Model

FIG. 9A illustrates a textual representation of a natural language inputat electronic device 902, according to some examples. Device 902 is, forexample, similar or the same as device 200, 400, or 802 described above.In some examples, device 902 includes the modules and functions of adigital assistant described above in FIGS. 7A-7C. In some examples,device 902 includes the components and functions of system 800 and/or900 (FIGS. 8B and 9C), described herein.

In FIG. 9A, received natural language input is recognized. Device 902displays a textual representation of the recognized natural languageinput (e.g., “Play Avril Laveen Skater Boy”) on a display.

In the present example, the recognized natural language input includestwo sets of words incorrectly representing respective named entities. Inparticular, the words “Avril Laveen” incorrectly represent the namedentity of the singer “Avril Lavigne” and the words “Skater Boy”incorrectly represent the song “Sk8ter Boi.” As discussed below, one ormore mappings each associating word(s) incorrectly representing a namedentity with a correct representation of the named entity (e.g., themapping of “Avril Laveen” to “Avril Lavigne”) are determined. The one ormore determined mappings are provided to train named entity model 804.In this manner, named entity model 804 is trained to identify andcorrect named entity errors.

FIG. 9B illustrates device output after receiving natural languageinput, according to some examples. In the present example, because thenatural language input includes a named entity error (e.g., “SkaterBoy”), device 902 is unable to find a corresponding song, and insteadplays a random song by Avril Lavigne. For example, device 902 outputs“Okay, playing Complicated by Avril Lavigne” and/or plays the song“Complicated” by Avril Lavigne.

In some examples, the output provided after receiving the naturallanguage input includes a media item (e.g., a song), a search result(e.g., a result of a restaurant search, navigation instructions to asearched location), and/or an application (e.g., the launching of anapplication such as Twitter). In some examples, the output providedafter receiving the natural language input is provided without receivingfurther user input at device 902. For example, the song “Complicated” isprovided without a user providing further natural language input todevice 902 and/or without a user manually searching for and playing thesong “Complicated” at device 902.

In some examples, output provided after receiving the natural languageinput is provided responsive to receiving further user input (e.g., atdevice 902). For example, because of a named entity error in the naturallanguage input “Play Avril Laveen Skater Boy,” device 902 is unable tofind a correct song and provides an error message (e.g., “Sorry Icouldn't find Avril Laveen Skater Boy”). A user of device 902 thenmanually searches for the song Sk8ter Boi (e.g., provides further inputusing a music application) and causes the song to be output. As anotherexample, because of a named entity error in the natural language input“Find G or Dano's Pizza” (“G or Dano's” Pizza incorrectly represents thenamed entity “Giordano's Pizza”), device 902 provides the error message“Sorry I couldn't find G or Dano's Pizza near you.” The user thenmanually searches for Giordano's Pizza and device 902 outputs a searchresult. For example, the user uses a maps application to navigate toGiordano's Pizza or uses a web search application to find informationabout Giordano's Pizza.

FIG. 9C illustrates system 900 for training a named entity model inaccordance with some examples. In some examples, system 900 isimplemented on a standalone computer system (e.g., on device 802). Insome examples, system 900 is distributed across multiple devices. Insome examples, some of the modules and functions of system 900 aredivided into a server portion and a client portion, where the clientportion resides on one or more user devices (e.g., devices 104, 122,200, 400, 600, 802, or 902) and communicates with the server portion(e.g., server system 108) through one or more networks, e.g., as shownin FIG. 1. System 900 is implemented using hardware, software, or acombination of hardware and software to carry out the principlesdiscussed herein. In some examples, the modules and functions of system900 are implemented within a digital assistant module, discussed abovewith respect to FIGS. 7A-7B.

It should be noted that system 900 is exemplary, and thus system 900 canhave more or fewer components than shown, can combine two or morecomponents, or can have a different configuration or arrangement of thecomponents. Further, although the below discussion describes functionsbeing performed at a single component of system 900, it is to beunderstood that such functions can be performed at other components ofsystem 900 and that such functions can be performed at more than onecomponent of system 900.

System 900 includes user engagement module 904. In some examples, userengagement module 904 collects metadata corresponding to an output(e.g., output provided after receiving a natural language input). Suchmetadata and/or output is referred to herein as “user engagement data.”In some examples, the metadata includes a set of attributescorresponding to the output. The set of attributes define a respectiveset of values for a respective set of properties of a domaincorresponding to the natural language input. For example, the output ofthe song “Complicated” has corresponding metadata including theattributes “Complicated” and “Avril Lavigne.” These attributes definevalues for the respective musicTitle and musicArtist media domainproperties. In some examples, the metadata further includes a durationthe song “Complicated” was played for (e.g., 4 minutes and 4 seconds,which is the length of the entire song). In some examples, the metadataincludes other information corresponding to the output such as domaincorresponding to the output and/or a timestamp of the output.

As described below, in some examples, system 900 uses collected userengagement data to determine correct representations of named entitiesfrom natural language input. In particular, it may be inferred from userengagement data indicating satisfaction with an output that the outputwas correct for a particular natural language input. Accordingly, userengagement data (e.g., metadata) corresponding to such output likelyincludes one or more correct representations of respective namedentities. Thus, in some examples, the user engagement data (e.g., thevalue “Avril Lavigne”) is compared (e.g., using mapping module 906) tonatural language input to determine one or more mappings eachassociating an incorrect representation of a named entity with a correctrepresentation of the named entity (e.g., the mapping of “Avril Laveento Avril Lavigne”). In this manner, system 900 can identify a namedentity error in the natural language input and determine the correctrepresentation of the named entity.

In some examples, user engagement module 904 determines whether outputsatisfies a predetermined criterion. In some examples, whether theoutput satisfied a predetermined criterion is determined using themetadata corresponding to the output. In some examples, thepredetermined criterion represents user satisfaction with the output. Asdiscussed, user satisfaction with an output indicates that userengagement data corresponding to the output can be used to identifynamed entity errors in natural language input.

In some examples, a predetermined criterion includes a duration forwhich the output is provided (e.g., a duration a media item is playedfor, a duration of navigation, a duration of time a user interacts withan application). In some examples, if the output is provided for greaterthan a threshold duration, the predetermined criterion is satisfied. Forexample, user engagement data indicates that the song “Complicated” isplayed for four minutes and four seconds (e.g., indicating usersatisfaction with the output). Because four minutes and four secondsexceeds a threshold duration (e.g., 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 seconds), theoutput of “Complicated” satisfies the predetermined criterion. Asanother example, if the output includes navigation directions, and thedirections are output for greater than a threshold duration (e.g.,navigation directions to Giordano's Pizza are output for 15 minutes), apredetermined criterion is satisfied.

In some examples, a predetermined criterion includes a time at which theoutput is provided. For example, if the output is provided within apredetermined duration (e.g., a short duration such as 30 seconds, 1, 2,3, 4, or 5 minutes) after the time at which the natural language inputis received, the predetermined criterion is satisfied. In some examples,outputs provided shortly after the natural language input is receivedindicate that the output is likely relevant to the natural languageinput. For example, shortly after providing the natural language input“Search for G or Dano's Pizza” (and device 902 being unable to return acorrect result due to a named entity error) a user searches for“Giordano's Pizza” and causes a search result to be output. In contrast,outputs provided long after (e.g., 5 minutes after) receipt of thenatural language input are less likely to be relevant to the naturallanguage input. In this manner, outputs irrelevant to the naturallanguage input may not be considered when determining named entityerrors in the natural language input.

In some examples, a predetermined criterion includes whether the outputcorresponds to a domain determined for the natural language input. Insome examples, if the output corresponds to the domain determined forthe natural language input, the predetermined criterion is satisfied.For example, the media domain is determined for the natural languageinput “Play Avril Laveen Skater Boi,” and the output of the song“Complicated” corresponds to the media domain (e.g., because the mediadomain relates to a user intent of playing media items). In contrast,the output of a particular application (e.g., a user launches Twitter)does not correspond to the media domain. In this manner, outputsunrelated to a domain determined for the natural language input (andthus unlikely related to the natural language input) may not beconsidered when determining named entity errors in the natural languageinput.

System 900 includes mapping module 906. In some examples, mapping module906 receives natural language input and user engagement data andcompares the natural language input to the user engagement datacorresponding to an output provided after receipt of the naturallanguage input. For example, mapping module 906 compares the naturallanguage input to a set of values defined by the metadata correspondingto the output to generate one or more mappings. The one or more mappingseach associate of a set words of the natural language input with a valuedefined by the metadata (e.g., a mapping associates “Avril Laveen” with“Avril Lavigne”). In some examples, the set of words incorrectlyrepresents a named entity and the value correctly represents the namedentity. In some examples, comparing the natural language input to theset of values is performed in accordance with determining that theoutput satisfies one or more predetermined criteria (e.g., indicatinguser satisfaction with the output).

In some examples, comparing the natural language input to the set ofvalues is based on fuzzy matching. For example, fuzzy matching isperformed between a set of words of the natural language input and oneor more values of the set of values. For example, fuzzy matching isperformed between the words “Avril Laveen” and the values of“Complicated” and “Avril Lavigne” to generate the mapping of “AvrilLaveen” to “Avril Lavigne.” In this way, using user engagement data, anincorrect representation of a named entity is mapped to a correctrepresentation of the named entity.

In some examples, each mapping generated using fuzzy matching isassociated with a respective confidence score (e.g., indicating thevalidity of a fuzzy match). In some examples, the respective confidencescore is based on an edit distance and/or a phonetic distance betweenthe sets of words of the mapping. In some examples, the edit distancequantifies the difference between the two sets of words based on theirrespective spellings. In some examples, the phonetic distance quantifiesthe difference between two sets of words based on their respectivepronunciations (e.g., “Avril Laveen” and “Avril Lavigne” have arelatively low phonetic distance because of their similarpronunciations). The phonetic distance may be computed using anysuitable phonetic algorithm (e.g., the double Metaphone algorithm)currently known or later developed. In the present example, theconfidence score of the mapping of “Avril Laveen” to “Avril Lavigne” isrelatively high (e.g., greater than a threshold) and thus the mapping isdetermined to be a valid fuzzy match. However, the confidence score ofthe mapping of “Skater Boy” to the value “Complicated” is relatively low(e.g., less than a threshold), and thus the mapping is determined not tobe a valid fuzzy match.

In some examples, mapping module 906 determines a failure to associate(e.g., match) a set of words of the natural language input with one ormore values. For example, mapping module 906 fails to associate thewords “Skater Boy” with any of the values “Complicated” or “AvrilLavigne.” In some examples, determining a failure to associate a set ofwords includes comparing (e.g., using fuzzy matching as described above)the set of words to the one or more values to generate one or morerespective mappings. In some examples, if each respective confidencescore of the one or more mappings is below a threshold, a failure toassociate the set of words is determined.

As demonstrated, using solely user engagement data is sometimesinsufficient to determine a correct representation for a named entity.In particular, because an incorrect output (e.g., the song“Complicated”) was provided for the natural language input “Play AvrilLaveen Skater Boy,” “Skater Boy” fails to be matched to user engagementdata corresponding to the incorrect output. Accordingly, no correctrepresentation for “Skater Boy” is found using the user engagement data(recall that the correct representation is “Sk8ter Boi”). In suchexamples, as discussed below, knowledge base 806 is used to determine acorrect representation of the named entity.

System 900 includes knowledge base 806. In some examples, in accordancewith determining a failure to associate a set of words of the naturallanguage input with one or more values, mapping module 906 usesknowledge base 806 to determine a mapping associating the set of wordswith a value included in the knowledge base. For example, knowledge base806 (e.g., the iTunes® database) is searched for values that fuzzy match“Skater Boy.” In some examples, searching knowledge base 806 for fuzzymatches is performed using techniques analogous to those discussed abovewith respect to FIG. 8B. As shown, searching knowledge base 806 resultsin determining the mapping of “Skater Boy” to the correct representation“Sk8ter Boi.” In this manner, knowledge 806 is used to map incorrectrepresentations of a named entity to the correct representation (e.g.,when such mapping cannot be determined using user engagement data).

In some examples, determining a mapping using the knowledge baseincludes searching the knowledge base using a search criterion. In someexamples, the search criterion includes a value defined by userengagement data. For example, knowledge base 806 is not searched for allvalues that may fuzzy match “Skater Boy,” but the search is limited bythe search criterion of “Avril Lavigne.” In other words, because theuser engagement data indicates that a user is likely requesting a songby “Avril Lavigne,” only values associated with “Avril Lavigne” (e.g.,songs by Avril Lavigne) are searched to find fuzzy matches to “SkaterBoy.” In this way, using user engagement data may prevent potentiallyinefficient searching of the entire knowledge base 806 for a correctrepresentation of a named entity.

Although the above description describes determining a mapping usingknowledge base 806 when a set of words of the natural language inputfails to match user engagement data, determining a mapping usingknowledge base 806 is not so limited. In particular, in some examples,mapping module 906 determines one or more mappings (e.g., eachassociating a set of words of natural language input with a respectiveknowledge base value) using knowledge base 806 even when one or moresets of words of the natural language input each match (e.g., are avalid fuzzy match to) the user engagement data. In some examples,mapping module 906 determines one or more mappings using knowledge base806 when user engagement data is unavailable for a particular output(e.g., due to user settings prohibiting the collection of such data,and/or because such data is unavailable for natural language inputcorresponding to certain domain(s)).

System 900 includes validator 908. In some examples, validator 908includes a machine learned model (e.g., a neural network, a binaryclassifier, etc). In some examples, validator 908 determines respectiveconfidence scores associated with generated mappings (e.g., generated bymapping module 906). In some examples, a confidence score associatedwith a mapping indicates a likelihood that the mapping correctly maps anincorrect representation of a named entity to a correct representationof the named entity.

In some examples, validator 908 determines a confidence score for amapping based on determining a fuzzy match score (e.g., based on editdistance and/or phonetic distance as discussed above) associated withthe mapping. For example, the mapping of “Skater Boy” to “Sk8ter Boi” isassociated with a high (e.g., above a threshold) fuzzy match scorebecause “Skater Boy” is a close match to “Sk8ter Boi.” Accordingly, insome examples, a high fuzzy match score for a mapping increases aconfidence score for the mapping, while a low fuzzy match score for amapping decreases a confidence score for the mapping.

In some examples, validator 908 determines a fuzzy match scoreassociated with a mapping based on a frequency score of the mapping. Insome examples, a fuzzy match score associated with a mapping is based ona combination of (e.g., a weighted average of) a score based on editdistance, a score based on phonetic distance, and/or a frequency score.In some examples, if two sets of words are mapped to each other (e.g.,mapped to each other with a confidence score above a threshold) withabove a threshold frequency, a frequency score associated with suchmapping is high. For example, the mapping of “Pikachu” to “Yes Indeed”(recall that “Pikachu” is an alias for “Yes Indeed”) is determined basedon user engagement data collected from many devices. This mapping has ahigh frequency score because user engagement data indicates that withina threshold time period (e.g., one month), a threshold percentage (e.g.,80%) of natural language inputs including “Pikachu” cause determinationof the mapping of “Pikachu” to “Yes Indeed.” In some examples, a high(e.g., above a threshold) frequency score for a mapping increases thefuzzy match score associated with the mapping. In some examples, a lowfrequency score for a mapping decreases the fuzzy match score associatedwith the mapping.

In some examples, validator 908 determines a confidence score for amapping based on determining a user engagement score associated with themapping (e.g., using user engagement data collected by user engagementmodule 904). For example, if a mapping was determined using userengagement data corresponding to an output, and the user engagement dataindicates satisfaction with the output, a user engagement scoreassociated with such mapping is relatively high. For example, recallwhen a natural language input is recognized as “Find G or Dano's Pizza,”due to the named entity error, the correct restaurant is not found. Auser then manually searches for “Giordano's Pizza” and causes output ofnavigation instructions to “Giordano's Pizza” for greater than apredetermined duration. Because the output is provided for greater thanthe predetermined duration (indicating user satisfaction with theoutput), the determined mapping of “G or Dano's Pizza” to “Giordano'sPizza” is associated with a high (e.g., greater than a threshold) userengagement score. Accordingly, in some examples, a high user engagementscore for a mapping increases a confidence score for the mapping, whilea low user engagement score for a mapping decreases a confidence scorefor the mapping.

Using user engagement data in this manner may be useful for identifyingan alias for a named entity. For example, when a user provides thenatural language input “Play Pikachu by Drake” (recall that “Pikachu” isan alias for the song “Yes Indeed”), a device may initially be unable tofind a correct song. Further, searching knowledge base 806 for “Pikachu”may be unable to return a correct representation of the named entity(e.g., because there is no song by Drake in the knowledge base titled“Pikachu”). In this example, a user manually searches for the song “YesIndeed” by Drake shortly after providing the natural language input andcauses it to be played for a predetermined duration. Based on suchindication of user satisfaction with the output “Yes Indeed,” userengagement data for the output may be compared to the natural languageinput to generate the mapping of “Pikachu” to “Yes Indeed.” Such mappingis thus associated with a high user engagement score.

In some examples, validator 908 determines a confidence score for amapping based on determining a popularity score associated with themapping. In some examples, the popularity score is determined based oninformation indicating a popularity of the named entity corresponding tothe mapping (e.g., a number of plays, views, and/or purchases of mediaitem(s) corresponding to the named entity). For example, validator 908uses knowledge base 806 (e.g., the iTunes® database) containing suchinformation to determine the popularity score. In some examples, thepopularity score is determined based on a number of times and/orfrequency with which the named entity is mentioned (e.g., in internetsearch results, in a certain web service such as Twitter, Inc.). In someexamples, a high (e.g., greater than a threshold) popularity score for amapping increases a confidence score for the mapping, while a lowpopularity score for a mapping decreases a confidence score for themapping.

In some examples, validator 908 determines a confidence score for amapping based on determining a similarity score associated with themapping. In some examples, the similarity score indicates a similaritybetween the respective representations of the two sets of words of themapping. For example, validator 908 determines a first representation(e.g., a vector representation) of the first set of words (e.g., “AvrilLaveen”) and a second representation (e.g., a vector representation) ofthe second set of words (e.g., “Avril Lavigne”). In some examples,validator 908 determines the similarity score based on a cosinesimilarity (or any other suitable mathematical representation ofsimilarity) between the first representation and the secondrepresentation. In some examples, a high (e.g., greater than athreshold) similarity score for a mapping increases a confidence scorefor the mapping, while a low similarity score for a mapping decreases aconfidence score for the mapping.

In some examples, validator 908 determines a confidence score for amapping based on determining a frequency score associated with themapping. In some examples, the frequency score indicates a frequencywith which the two sets of words of the mapping are mapped to each other(e.g., by mapping module 906). For example, the mapping of “AvrilLaveen” to “Avril Lavigne” may frequently be determined based on userengagement data collected from many user devices. In some examples, ifthe two sets of words are frequently mapped to each other (e.g., mappedwith above a threshold frequency), a frequency score associated withsuch mapping is high. In some examples, a high (e.g., greater than athreshold) frequency score for a mapping increases a confidence scorefor the mapping, while a low frequency score for a mapping decreases aconfidence score for the mapping.

In some examples, validator 908 determines a confidence score associatedwith a mapping based on one or more of the above described scores (e.g.,fuzzy match, user engagement, popularity, similarity, and/or frequencyscores). For example, validator 908 determines one or more of the abovedescribed scores for a mapping and uses a weighted average of the one ormore scores (or any other suitable mathematical combination of the oneor more scores) to determine a confidence score associated with themapping.

In some examples, validator 908 determines whether a confidence scoreassociated with a mapping exceeds a threshold. In some examples, amapping associated with a confidence score exceeding the threshold(e.g., a validated mapping) indicates a high confidence that the mappingmaps an incorrect representation of a named entity to a correctrepresentation of the named entity.

System 900 includes named entity model 804. In some examples, one ormore mappings are provided to train named entity model 804. For example,validator 908 provides one or more validated mappings to train namedentity model 804. In some examples, training named entity model 804includes updating one or more weighting values for one or more nodes ofa neural network included in named entity model 804. In some examples,training named entity model 804 includes updating (e.g., adding) one ormore mappings to named entity model 804 (e.g., adding the mapping of“Avril Laveen” to “Avril Lavigne”).

In this manner, named entity model 804 is trained to identify andcorrect named entity errors in natural language input (e.g., correct“Cheap of You” to “Shape of You”). Similarly, in some examples, namedentity model 804 is trained to identify an alias for a named entity andto determine a correct representation of the named entity (e.g., thealias of “Pikachu” for the song “Yes Indeed”). Accordingly, training anamed entity model 804 using determined mappings can allow for commonnamed entity errors in natural language input to be corrected. Forexample, it is observed from user engagement data that “Cheap of You” isa common error for the named entity of “Shape of You” (e.g., many usersplay the song “Shape of You” after providing the input “Play Cheap ofYou”). Thus, the determined mapping of “Cheap of You” to “Shape of You”trains named entity model 804 to correct the error “Cheap of You.”

As discussed, in some examples, named entity model 804 determines acorrect representation of a named entity by determining one or morevalues for a domain property (e.g., the values of “Shape of You,” “CheapShoes” and “Shake on You” for the musicTitle domain property). Inparticular, in some examples, named entity model 804 determinesrespective rankings for each value, and identifies the value with thehighest ranking as the correct representation of a named entity.Training named entity model as discussed above can thus result in avalue correctly representing a named entity being assigned a highranking. For example, because named entity model 804 is trained usingthe mapping of “Cheap of You” to “Shape of You,” based on the naturallanguage input of “Play Cheap of You by Ed Sheeran,” named entity model804 determines a high ranking for the value “Shape of You.” In someexamples, named entity model 804 determines a ranking for a valueanalogous to the techniques discussed above (e.g., with respect tovalidator 908) for determining a confidence score associated with amapping. For example, the value “Shape of You” (determined based on thevalue “Cheap of You”) is associated with a high ranking because of ahigh fuzzy match score between “Shape of You” and “Cheap of You,” a highfrequency score associated with the mapping of “Cheap of You” to “Shapeof You,” and/or a high popularity score of the song “Shape of You.”

As described, named entity model 804 is trained using mappingscorresponding to one or more particular domains, in some examples. Forexample, the mapping of “Cheap of You” to “Shape of You” corresponds tothe media domain and the mapping of “G or Dano's Pizza” to “Giordano'sPizza” corresponds to the geographical domain. In some examples, namedentity model 804 receives natural language input corresponding to adomain (e.g., the sports domain) not included in the one or moreparticular domains. Despite that named entity model 804 was not trainedusing mappings corresponding to the domain, in some examples, namedentity model still identifies and corrects named entity errors in thenatural language input.

In particular, natural language inputs corresponding to respectivelydifferent domains may share similar errors. For example, the naturallanguage input of “Play Stay with Me by Sam Smits” (corresponding to themedia domain) includes the error of “Smits” (it should be “Smith”).Similarly, the natural language input of “Football scores Malcolm Smits”(corresponding to the sports domain) includes the error of “Smits” (itshould also be Smith). Accordingly, the mapping of “Smits” to “Smith”determined from input corresponding to the media domain is used to trainnamed entity model 804 to correct the error. Thus, when a user providesthe input “Football scores Malcolm Smits,” named entity model 804corrects the named entity error and correctly causes football scoresrelated to “Malcom Smith” to be provided. Accordingly, training namedentity model 804 as described herein may allow named entity model 804 toidentify errors for natural language input corresponding to manydomains, despite that named entity model may only be trained usingmappings corresponding to a few domains. In other words, named entitymodel may generalize to correctly identify named entity errors fornatural language inputs of a variety of domains.

In some examples, natural language processing system 900 includesgenerative model 910. In some examples, generative model 910 includes amachine learned model (e.g., a neural network). In some examples,generative model 910 receives a representation of a named entity (e.g.,via natural language input) and determines one or more mappingsassociating the representation of the named entity with one or morerespective alternate representations of the named entity. In someexamples, the representation of the named entity is a correctrepresentation of the named entity and the one or more alternativerepresentations each represent an incorrect representation of the namedentity. For example, based on the correct representation “Ed Sheeran,”generative model 910 generates the mappings of “Ed Sheeran” to therespective incorrect representations “Ed Sheridan,” “Ned Sheehan,” “TedSheehan.”

In some examples, generative model 910 is trained using mappingsgenerated by mapping module 906 (that are each optionally validated byvalidator 908). In this manner, generative model 910 can predict namedentity errors (e.g., common errors) in natural language input. It willbe appreciated that training generative model 910 in this manner mayallow generative model 910 to generalize to predict named entity errorsnot explicitly indicated by user engagement data (e.g., generative modelcan predict the mapping of “Sheeran” to “Sheridan” despite such mappingnot being determined from user engagement data). In some examples, theone or more mappings generated by generative model are provided to trainnamed entity model 804 (e.g., using techniques analogous to thosedescribed above). In this manner, in some examples, additional trainingdata is provided for named entity model 804, which may increase theefficiency and/or accuracy with which named entity model 804 identifiesand corrects named entity errors.

7. Process for Processing Natural Language Requests

FIGS. 10A-10B illustrate process 1000 for processing natural languagerequests, according to various examples. Process 1000 is performed, forexample, using one or more electronic devices implementing a digitalassistant. In some examples, process 1000 is performed using aclient-server system (e.g., system 100), and the blocks of process 1000are divided up in any manner between the server (e.g., DA server 106)and a client device. In other examples, the blocks of process 1000 aredivided up between the server and multiple client devices (e.g., amobile phone and a smart watch). Thus, while portions of process 1000are described herein as being performed by particular devices of aclient-server system, it will be appreciated that process 1000 is not solimited. In other examples, process 1000 is performed using only aclient device (e.g., user device 104) or only multiple client devices.In process 1000, some blocks are, optionally, combined, the order ofsome blocks is, optionally, changed, and some blocks are, optionally,omitted. In some examples, additional steps may be performed incombination with the process 1000.

At block 1002, a natural language input is received (e.g., by device802).

At block 1004, a domain (e.g., of ontology 760) corresponding to thenatural language input is determined (e.g., using the componentsdiscussed above with respect to FIGS. 7A and 7B). In some examples, thedomain corresponding to the natural language input includes a mediadomain.

At block 1006, in accordance with determining the domain correspondingto the natural language input, a first value for a first property of thedomain is determined based on the natural language input (e.g., usingthe components discussed above with respect to FIGS. 7A and 7B). In someexamples, in accordance with not determining a domain corresponding tothe natural language input, the operations described below are notperformed and/or an error message is output (e.g., by device 802).

At block 1008, it is determined (e.g., by named entity model 804) thatthe first value includes an inaccurate (e.g., incorrect) representationof a second named entity. In some examples, determining that the firstvalue includes the inaccurate representation of the second named entityincludes determining that the named entity model includes a mappingassociating the first value with a third value, as shown in block 1010.In some examples, determining that the first value includes theinaccurate representation of the second named entity includesdetermining, using the named entity model, a mapping associating thefirst value with a third value, the mapping being associated with aconfidence score (block 1012), and determining that the confidence scoreexceeds a threshold (block 1014).

At block 1016, a second value for the first property of the domain isdetermined (e.g., by named entity model 804) based on the named entitymodel and the natural language input. In some examples, the second valuedefines a parameter for a task corresponding to the natural languageinput. In some examples, determining the second value for the firstproperty of the domain is performed in accordance with determining thatthe first value includes the inaccurate representation of the secondnamed entity. In some examples, the first value represents a first namedentity and the second value represents the first named entity. In someexamples, the first named entity includes at least one of: a secondmedia item, a person, a second location, and an application.

In some examples, the named entity model associates a set of one or morevalues with the second value, the set of one or more values includingthe first value (block 1018). In some examples, the named entity modelincludes a plurality of mappings, where each mapping of the plurality ofmappings associates a respective representation of a respective namedentity to a correct representation of the respective named entity (block1020). In some examples, each mapping of the plurality of mappingssatisfies one or more predetermined rules, each of the one or morepredetermined rules specifying a condition for the respectiverepresentation of the respective named entity.

In some examples, the named entity model includes a machine learnedmodel (block 1022). In some examples, determining the second value forthe first property of the domain includes determining, using the machinelearned model and the first value, a plurality of values for the firstproperty of the domain, where each value of the plurality of values isassociated with a respective ranking (block 1024). In some examples, therespective ranking associated with each value of the plurality of valuesis determined using a knowledge base (e.g., 806), as shown in block1026. In some examples, the respective ranking associated with eachvalue of the plurality of values is determined based on context dataassociated with the first value, as shown in block 1028.

In some examples, determining the second value for the first property ofthe domain includes identifying, from the plurality of values, thesecond value based on a second respective ranking associated with thesecond value, as shown in block 1030.

At block 1032, the first value is replaced with the second value (e.g.,by named entity model 804), in some examples.

At block 1034, a task is performed based on the parameter (e.g., usingthe component discussed above with respect to FIGS. 7A-7B). In someexamples, performing the task includes searching for a first media item,as shown in block 1036. In some examples, performing the task includessearching for a first location, as shown in block 1038.

At block 1040, a result is provided (e.g., by device 802) based on theperformed task.

The operations described above with reference to FIGS. 10A-10B areoptionally implemented by components depicted in FIGS. 1-4, 6A-6B,7A-7C, 8B, and 9C. For example, the operations of process 1000 may beimplemented by named entity model 804 and/or by digital assistant module726. It would be clear to a person having ordinary skill in the art howother processes are implemented based on the components depicted inFIGS. 1-4, 6A-6B, 7A-7C, 8B, and 9C.

8. Process for Processing Natural Language Requests

FIGS. 11A-11B illustrate process 1100 for processing natural languagerequests, according to various examples. Process 1100 is performed, forexample, using one or more electronic devices implementing a digitalassistant. In some examples, process 1100 is performed using aclient-server system (e.g., system 100), and the blocks of process 1100are divided up in any manner between the server (e.g., DA server 106)and a client device. In other examples, the blocks of process 1100 aredivided up between the server and multiple client devices (e.g., amobile phone and a smart watch). Thus, while portions of process 1100are described herein as being performed by particular devices of aclient-server system, it will be appreciated that process 1100 is not solimited. In other examples, process 1100 is performed using only aclient device (e.g., user device 104) or only multiple client devices.In process 1100, some blocks are, optionally, combined, the order ofsome blocks is, optionally, changed, and some blocks are, optionally,omitted. In some examples, additional steps may be performed incombination with the process 1100.

At block 1102 a natural language input and metadata corresponding to anoutput provided after receiving the natural language input are received(e.g., by device 902 and/or by server system 108). In some examples, themetadata includes a set of attributes corresponding to the output, theset of attributes defining a respective set of values for a respectiveset of properties of a domain corresponding to the natural languageinput. In some examples, the output includes a media item or a searchresult. In some examples, the output provided after receiving thenatural language input is provided without receiving, after receivingthe natural language input, further user input at the electronic device(e.g., device 902). In some examples, the output provided afterreceiving the natural language input is provided responsive to receivingfurther user input at the electronic device (e.g., device 902), thefurther user input received after receiving the natural language input.

At block 1104, in some examples, it is determined (e.g., using userengagement module 904), whether the output satisfies a predeterminedcriterion representing user satisfaction with the output.

At block 1106, the natural language input is compared (e.g., usingmapping module 906) to the respective set of values to generate a firstmapping associating a first set of words of the natural language inputwith a first value of the respective set of values. In some examples,comparing the natural language input to the respective set of values isperformed in accordance with determining that the output satisfies thepredetermined criterion. In some examples, comparing the naturallanguage input to the respective set of values is based on fuzzymatching, as shown in block 1108. In some examples, the first set of oneor more words represents a named entity and the first value representsthe named entity.

At block 1110, a confidence score associated with the first mapping isdetermined (e.g., by validator 908), in some examples. At block 1112, itis determined (e.g., by validator 908) whether the confidence scoreexceeds a second threshold.

At block 1114, the first mapping is provided (e.g., by validator 908) totrain a named entity model (e.g., 804) for natural language processing.In some examples, providing the first mapping to train the named entitymodel is performed in accordance with determining that the confidencescore exceeds the second threshold.

At block 1116, a failure to associate a second set of words of thenatural language input with one or more values of the respective set ofvalues is determined (e.g., by mapping module 906), in some examples. Insome examples, determining the failure to associate the second set ofwords with the one or more values includes comparing the second set ofwords to each value of the one or more values to generate one or moremappings each associated with a respective confidence score (block 1118)and determining that each respective confidence score is below a firstthreshold (block 1120).

At block 1122, in accordance with determining the failure to associatethe second set of words with the one or more values of the respectiveset of values, it is determined, using a knowledge base (e.g., 806), asecond mapping associating the second set of words with a second valueincluded in the knowledge base. In some examples, determining the secondmapping is based on performing fuzzy matching between the second set ofwords and the second value. (block 1124). In some examples, determiningthe second mapping includes searching the knowledge base for a secondset of one or more values using the first value as a search criterion(block 1126).

At block 1128, the second mapping is provided (e.g., by mapping module906) to train the named entity model (e.g., 804).

The operations described above with reference to FIGS. 11A-11B areoptionally implemented by components depicted in FIGS. 1-4, 6A-6B,7A-7C, 8B, and 9C. For example, the operations of process 800 may beimplemented by system 900. It would be clear to a person having ordinaryskill in the art how other processes are implemented based on thecomponents depicted in FIGS. 1-4, 6A-6B, 7A-7C, 8B, and 9C.

In accordance with some implementations, a computer-readable storagemedium (e.g., a non-transitory computer readable storage medium) isprovided, the computer-readable storage medium storing one or moreprograms for execution by one or more processors of an electronicdevice, the one or more programs including instructions for performingany of the methods or processes described herein.

In accordance with some implementations, an electronic device (e.g., aportable electronic device) is provided that comprises means forperforming any of the methods or processes described herein.

In accordance with some implementations, an electronic device (e.g., aportable electronic device) is provided that comprises a processing unitconfigured to perform any of the methods or processes described herein.

In accordance with some implementations, an electronic device (e.g., aportable electronic device) is provided that comprises one or moreprocessors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by theone or more processors, the one or more programs including instructionsfor performing any of the methods or processes described herein.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has beendescribed with reference to specific embodiments. However, theillustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modificationsand variations are possible in view of the above teachings. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the techniques and their practical applications. Othersskilled in the art are thereby enabled to best utilize the techniquesand various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

Although the disclosure and examples have been fully described withreference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that variouschanges and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in theart. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as beingincluded within the scope of the disclosure and examples as defined bythe claims.

As described above, one aspect of the present technology is thegathering and use of data available from specific and legitimate sourcesto improve natural language recognition. The present disclosurecontemplates that in some instances, this gathered data may includepersonal information data that uniquely identifies or can be used toidentify a specific person. Such personal information data can includedemographic data, location-based data, online identifiers, telephonenumbers, email addresses, home addresses, data or records relating to auser's health or level of fitness (e.g., vital signs measurements,medication information, exercise information), date of birth, or anyother personal information.

The present disclosure recognizes that the use of such personalinformation data, in the present technology, can be used to the benefitof users. For example, the personal information data can be used toidentify and correct named entity errors in natural language input.Accordingly, use of such personal information data may result in moreaccurate and efficient performance of tasks responsive to receivingnatural language input. Further, other uses for personal informationdata that benefit the user are also contemplated by the presentdisclosure. For instance, health and fitness data may be used, inaccordance with the user's preferences to provide insights into theirgeneral wellness, or may be used as positive feedback to individualsusing technology to pursue wellness goals.

The present disclosure contemplates that those entities responsible forthe collection, analysis, disclosure, transfer, storage, or other use ofsuch personal information data will comply with well-established privacypolicies and/or privacy practices. In particular, such entities would beexpected to implement and consistently apply privacy practices that aregenerally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmentalrequirements for maintaining the privacy of users. Such informationregarding the use of personal data should be prominent and easilyaccessible by users, and should be updated as the collection and/or useof data changes. Personal information from users should be collected forlegitimate uses only. Further, such collection/sharing should occur onlyafter receiving the consent of the users or other legitimate basisspecified in applicable law. Additionally, such entities should considertaking any needed steps for safeguarding and securing access to suchpersonal information data and ensuring that others with access to thepersonal information data adhere to their privacy policies andprocedures. Further, such entities can subject themselves to evaluationby third parties to certify their adherence to widely accepted privacypolicies and practices. In addition, policies and practices should beadapted for the particular types of personal information data beingcollected and/or accessed and adapted to applicable laws and standards,including jurisdiction-specific considerations that may serve to imposea higher standard. For instance, in the US, collection of or access tocertain health data may be governed by federal and/or state laws, suchas the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA);whereas health data in other countries may be subject to otherregulations and policies and should be handled accordingly.

Despite the foregoing, the present disclosure also contemplatesembodiments in which users selectively block the use of, or access to,personal information data. That is, the present disclosure contemplatesthat hardware and/or software elements can be provided to prevent orblock access to such personal information data. For example, such as inthe case of collecting user engagement data, the present technology canbe configured to allow users to select to “opt in” or “opt out” ofparticipation in the collection of personal information data duringregistration for services or anytime thereafter. In another example,users can select not to allow collection of user engagement data. In yetanother example, users can select to limit the length of time userengagement data is maintained. In addition to providing “opt in” and“opt out” options, the present disclosure contemplates providingnotifications relating to the access or use of personal information. Forinstance, a user may be notified upon downloading an app that theirpersonal information data will be accessed and then reminded again justbefore personal information data is accessed by the app.

Moreover, it is the intent of the present disclosure that personalinformation data should be managed and handled in a way to minimizerisks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use. Risk can beminimized by limiting the collection of data and deleting data once itis no longer needed. In addition, and when applicable, including incertain health related applications, data de-identification can be usedto protect a user's privacy. De-identification may be facilitated, whenappropriate, by removing identifiers, controlling the amount orspecificity of data stored (e.g., collecting location data at a citylevel rather than at an address level), controlling how data is stored(e.g., aggregating data across users), and/or other methods such asdifferential privacy.

Therefore, although the present disclosure broadly covers use ofpersonal information data to implement one or more various disclosedembodiments, the present disclosure also contemplates that the variousembodiments can also be implemented without the need for accessing suchpersonal information data. That is, the various embodiments of thepresent technology are not rendered inoperable due to the lack of all ora portion of such personal information data. For example, content can beselected and delivered to users based on aggregated non-personalinformation data or a bare minimum amount of personal information, suchas the content being handled only on the user's device or othernon-personal information available to the content delivery services.

What is claimed is:
 1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumstoring one or more programs, the one or more programs comprisinginstructions, which when executed by one or more processors of a firstelectronic device, cause the first electronic device to: receive anatural language input; determine a domain corresponding to the naturallanguage input; in accordance with determining the domain correspondingto the natural language input: determine, based on the natural languageinput, a first value for a first property of the domain; determine thatthe first value comprises an inaccurate representation of a namedentity; in accordance with determining that the first value comprisesthe inaccurate representation of the named entity, determine, based on anamed entity model and the natural language input, a second value forthe first property of the domain, wherein the second value defines aparameter for a task corresponding to the natural language input;perform the task based on the parameter; and provide a result based onthe performed task.
 2. The non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium of claim 1, wherein the domain corresponding to the naturallanguage input comprises a media domain.
 3. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein performing the taskincludes searching for a first media item.
 4. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein performing the taskincludes searching for a first location.
 5. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the one or moreprograms further comprise instructions, which when executed by the oneor more processors of the first electronic device, cause the firstelectronic device to: replace the first value with the second value. 6.The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, whereinthe first value represents the named entity and the second valuerepresents the named entity.
 7. The non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium of claim 6, wherein the named entity comprises at leastone of: a media item, a person, a location, and an application.
 8. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein thenamed entity model associates a set of one or more values with thesecond value, the set of one or more values including the first value.9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1,wherein the named entity model comprises a plurality of mappings,wherein each mapping of the plurality of mappings associates arespective representation of a respective named entity to a correctrepresentation of the respective named entity.
 10. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein each mapping of theplurality of mappings satisfies one or more predetermined rules, each ofthe one or more predetermined rules specifying a condition for therespective representation of the respective named entity.
 11. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein thenamed entity model comprises a machine learned model.
 12. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, whereindetermining the second value for the first property of the domainincludes: determining, using the machine learned model and the firstvalue, a plurality of values for the first property of the domain,wherein each value of the plurality of values is associated with arespective ranking; and identifying, from the plurality of values, thesecond value based on the respective ranking associated with the secondvalue.
 13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim12, wherein the respective ranking associated with each value of theplurality of values is determined using a knowledge base.
 14. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein therespective ranking associated with each value of the plurality of valuesis determined based on context data associated with the first value. 15.The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, whereindetermining that the first value comprises the inaccurate representationof the named entity includes determining that the named entity modelincludes a mapping associating the first value with a third value. 16.The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, whereindetermining that the first value comprises the inaccurate representationof the named entity includes: determining, using the named entity model,a mapping associating the first value with a third value, the mappingbeing associated with a confidence score; and determining that theconfidence score exceeds a threshold.
 17. An electronic device,comprising: one or more processors; a memory; and one or more programs,wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configuredto be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programsincluding instructions for: receiving a natural language input;determining a domain corresponding to the natural language input; inaccordance with determining the domain corresponding to the naturallanguage input: determining, based on the natural language input, afirst value for a first property of the domain; determining that thefirst value comprises an inaccurate representation of a named entity; inaccordance with determining that the first value comprises theinaccurate representation of the named entity, determining, based on anamed entity model and the natural language input a second value for thefirst property of the domain, wherein the second value defines aparameter for a task corresponding to the natural language input;performing the task based on the parameter; and providing a result basedon the performed task.
 18. A method for processing natural languagerequests, the method comprising: at an electronic device with one ormore processors and memory: receiving a natural language input;determining a domain corresponding to the natural language input; inaccordance with determining the domain corresponding to the naturallanguage input: determining, based on the natural language input, afirst value for a first property of the domain; determining that thefirst value comprises an inaccurate representation of a named entity; inaccordance with determining that the first value comprises theinaccurate representation of the named entity, determining, based on anamed entity model and the natural language input, a second value forthe first property of the domain, wherein the second value defines aparameter for a task corresponding to the natural language input;performing the task based on the parameter; and providing a result basedon the performed task.
 19. The electronic device of claim 17, whereinthe domain corresponding to the natural language input comprises a mediadomain.
 20. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein performing thetask includes searching for a first media item.
 21. The electronicdevice of claim 17, wherein performing the task includes searching for afirst location.
 22. The electronic device of claim 17, the one or moreprograms further including instructions for: replacing the first valuewith the second value.
 23. The electronic device of claim 17, whereinthe first value represents the named entity and the second valuerepresents the named entity.
 24. The electronic device of claim 23,wherein the named entity comprises at least one of: a media item, aperson, a location, and an application.
 25. The electronic device ofclaim 17, wherein the named entity model associates a set of one or morevalues with the second value, the set of one or more values includingthe first value.
 26. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein thenamed entity model comprises a plurality of mappings, wherein eachmapping of the plurality of mappings associates a respectiverepresentation of a respective named entity to a correct representationof the respective named entity.
 27. The electronic device of claim 26,wherein each mapping of the plurality of mappings satisfies one or morepredetermined rules, each of the one or more predetermined rulesspecifying a condition for the respective representation of therespective named entity.
 28. The electronic device of claim 17, whereinthe named entity model comprises a machine learned model.
 29. Theelectronic device of claim 28, wherein determining the second value forthe first property of the domain includes: determining, using themachine learned model and the first value, a plurality of values for thefirst property of the domain, wherein each value of the plurality ofvalues is associated with a respective ranking; and identifying, fromthe plurality of values, the second value based on the respectiveranking associated with the second value.
 30. The electronic device ofclaim 29, wherein the respective ranking associated with each value ofthe plurality of values is determined using a knowledge base.
 31. Theelectronic device of claim 29, wherein the respective ranking associatedwith each value of the plurality of values is determined based oncontext data associated with the first value.
 32. The electronic deviceof claim 17, wherein determining that the first value comprises theinaccurate representation of the named entity includes determining thatthe named entity model includes a mapping associating the first valuewith a third value.
 33. The electronic device of claim 17, whereindetermining that the first value comprises the inaccurate representationof the named entity includes: determining, using the named entity model,a mapping associating the first value with a third value, the mappingbeing associated with a confidence score; and determining that theconfidence score exceeds a threshold.
 34. The method of claim 18,wherein the domain corresponding to the natural language input comprisesa media domain.
 35. The method of claim 18, wherein performing the taskincludes searching for a first media item.
 36. The method of claim 18,wherein performing the task includes searching for a first location. 37.The method of claim 18, further comprising: replacing the first valuewith the second value.
 38. The method of claim 18, wherein the firstvalue represents the named entity and the second value represents thenamed entity.
 39. The method of claim 38, wherein the named entitycomprises at least one of: a media item, a person, a location, and anapplication.
 40. The method of claim 18, wherein the named entity modelassociates a set of one or more values with the second value, the set ofone or more values including the first value.
 41. The method of claim18, wherein the named entity model comprises a plurality of mappings,wherein each mapping of the plurality of mappings associates arespective representation of a respective named entity to a correctrepresentation of the respective named entity.
 42. The method of claim41, wherein each mapping of the plurality of mappings satisfies one ormore predetermined rules, each of the one or more predetermined rulesspecifying a condition for the respective representation of therespective named entity.
 43. The method of claim 18, wherein the namedentity model comprises a machine learned model.
 44. The method of claim43, wherein determining the second value for the first property of thedomain includes: determining, using the machine learned model and thefirst value, a plurality of values for the first property of the domain,wherein each value of the plurality of values is associated with arespective ranking; and identifying, from the plurality of values, thesecond value based on the respective ranking associated with the secondvalue.
 45. The method of claim 44, wherein the respective rankingassociated with each value of the plurality of values is determinedusing a knowledge base.
 46. The method of claim 44, wherein therespective ranking associated with each value of the plurality of valuesis determined based on context data associated with the first value. 47.The method of claim 18, wherein determining that the first valuecomprises the inaccurate representation of the named entity includesdetermining that the named entity model includes a mapping associatingthe first value with a third value.
 48. The method of claim 18, whereindetermining that the first value comprises the inaccurate representationof the named entity includes: determining, using the named entity model,a mapping associating the first value with a third value, the mappingbeing associated with a confidence score; and determining that theconfidence score exceeds a threshold.